Mudhal Mariyathai

Malaichami is the village chief but endures a loveless, quarrelsome marriage to his cousin Ponnatha. The home is tense and emotionally barren, as Ponnatha treats him with contempt. Their ward Rasamma and Malaichami's orphaned nephew Chellakannu live with them, shaping the family dynamics from the start.

Kuyil and her father arrive in the village seeking work, and Kuyil finds employment as a boatwoman along the river. Malaichami, who lacks emotional support at home, forms a warm and unlikely friendship with her despite the age and status gap. Kuyil's companionship provides him comfort and a window to a different life.

Chellakannu confesses his love for Sevuli, the cobbler Sengodan's daughter, and they plan to elope as wedding arrangements proceed. Kuyil steps in and persuades Malaichami to permit their marriage, bridging the social divide. The couple's vow to marry marks a turning point in the village's tensions.

After Sevuli and Chellakannu marry, an unseen man murders Sevuli in a field, and the struggle leaves Sevuli biting off the killer's toe while jewelry goes missing. The bizarre clue—a missing toe—hints at the killer's identity. Sengodan later reports finding a toe in Sevuli's mouth, prompting Malaichami to suspect Rasamma's husband.

Malaichami identifies Rasamma's husband as the killer based on the missing toe and hands him over to the police. The tragedy deepens when Chellakannu, overwhelmed by the events, commits suicide. The village mood darkens as the murder investigation unfolds.

Whispers about Malaichami's relationship with Kuyil spread through the village, threatening the chief's authority. Ponnatha takes Malaichami to the panchayat to demand a solution and to silence the whispers. In a tense moment, Malaichami blurts out that he has a relationship with Kuyil, attempting to put rumors to rest.

Kuyil privately reveals to Malaichami that she loves him and that he must acknowledge the same. Malaichami denies the confession in the moment, but inside he is unsettled by the possibility of their bond. The emotional tension between duty and desire drives the next turns of the plot.

At home, Ponnatha reveals that Rasamma's father is not Malaichami. Malaichami responds by admitting Rasamma was born from a casual relationship with someone at a village fair, and that he married Ponnatha to save her father from disgrace. This revelation unsettles family loyalties and reshapes the household dynamics.

Ponnatha gathers relatives for a settlement and to harm Kuyil, promising to cover the consequences with money. Malaichami challenges them to confront him and chooses to stay with Kuyil, vowing to defend her and their bond. He moves to Kuyil's hut to protect her from threat and ensure their continued togetherness.

Kuyil's home is found empty and she is later shown with blood, convicted of murder. She reveals that the person she killed was Mayilvaganam, Rasamma's biological father, on her coracle while he was en route to claim wealth. Her act saves the family’s reputation, and she explains the motive as preventing Basani’s power from being used against them.

Moved by Kuyil's sacrifice, Malaichami vows that he will not die until Kuyil returns, choosing to stay in her hut. He clings to that conviction through hardship, waiting for a sign of her return. The vow becomes a defining thread through the remaining events.

In the present day, Malaichami lies on his deathbed as Kuyil is brought on parole to see him. They share a final moment before he passes away, a poignant closure to their long bond. Afterward, Kuyil returns to prison and dies on a train, sealing the tragedy of their love.