Malaikottai Vaaliban

An undefeated drifting warrior, Malaikottai Vaaliban travels with his mentor Ayyanar and his adopted son Chinnappaiyyan through a vast desert region. Chinnappaiyyan energizes the crowds with drums and chants as Vaaliban fights in arenas. Vaaliban was an orphan who Ayyanar had adopted when he was a baby, shaping their father-figure bond.

In Adivaarithur, a limping woman named Jamanthi asks for a ride, unable to walk. Chinnappaiyyan and Ayyanar agree to take her along, and she joins their journey. The trio continues their travels with this unexpected companion.

In Adivaarithur, Vaaliban defeats the reigning champion in the customary fashion. Having defeated the champ, he claims the ex-champion's house and wife as his own, establishing his dominance in the local hierarchy.

At a betting parlor in Nooraanathalayur, Vaaliban meets dancer Rangapattinam Rangarani and clashes with Chamathakan, who is humiliated and vows to challenge him. The encounter deepens the brewing rivalry between Vaaliban and Chamathakan.

Chamathakan lures Vaaliban to Mangodu for a duel against their strongest fighter, Mangottu Mallan. The next morning, Vaaliban arrives and defeats Mangottu Mallan, stripping Chamathakan's family of their honor.

In retaliation for the humiliation, Chamathakan embarks on a killing spree to exact revenge on Vaaliban and his allies. The violence tests the resolve of everyone connected to Vaaliban.

Vaaliban returns to his origin at Ambathoor Malaikottai and issues a challenge to the Portuguese fighter king, Macaulay Maharaj, aiming to take over his reign.

Chamathakan poisons Vaaliban, temporarily blinding him, and Vaaliban is captured by Portuguese soldiers while on the path to the fight with Macaulay. The ambush jeopardizes his leadership and place in the looming battle.

The next day, Vaaliban regains his sight and defeats the Portuguese fighter with help from Ambathoor slaves liberated by Thenamma, aided by Rangarani's support. The victory solidifies his hold over the contested throne and humbles his enemies.

That night, Rangarani confesses her love to Vaaliban, but he rejects, saying he cannot love anyone. Rangarani is heartbroken and tells Thenamma, who begins plotting to change the course of events.

During the Thiruchenthooru festival, Jamanthi reveals she is pregnant with Chinnappaiyyan's child, filling Vaaliban with joy for the future. Rangarani overhears and misreads the situation, assuming the child is Vaaliban's, setting up a tragic misunderstanding.

Thenamma presses the idea that Jamanthi's pregnancy is tied to Vaaliban, inflaming Chinnappaiyyan and pushing him toward a plan to kill Vaaliban. The seed of jealousy seeds deeper conflict within the group.

During temple celebrations, Vaaliban senses Chamathakan nearby and searches for him amid the crowd. In the rush, Jamanthi is killed, and Vaaliban lunges to protect her, stabbing a masked man he believes to be Chamathakan—only to discover it is Chinnappaiyyan wearing a mask.

Ayyanar reveals to Chamathakan that Vaaliban is not an orphan but the son of Malaivettai Vaaliban, his rival. He recounts the past where Vaaliban was raised as a weapon against his father, and then poisons Chamathakan before wandering into the desert, signaling that the next opponent could be his own father in a setup for the sequel.