Padayottam

Kolathiri Raja names Udayan as the successor to the throne, following the matrilineal tradition. The king also arranges the marriage of his daughter Parvathi to Udayan, solidifying the new line of succession. The news stirs jealousy in Prince Devan and some nobles.

Two nobles resent Udayan's rise and plot to topple him. They enlist the dacoit Kompan to stage a peace-treaty ruse that lures Udayan to his camp. Unaware of the trap, Udayan travels to Kompan's camp.

At Kompan's camp, Udayan is betrayed and soon branded a traitor after news spreads that he killed Moithooti. The Kolathiri Raja cancels the marriage and orders punishment for treason. The royal court's trust collapses around Udayan.

Kompan's men seize Udayan and sell him as a slave to the cruel ship captain Mooppan. He endures brutal shipboard life as a slave. The betrayal marks a drastic fall from royalty to servitude.

While in captivity, Udayan learns that the Kolathiri Raja and queen were killed on Marakkar's boat, orchestrated by Perumana Kuruppu. He realizes the depth of the conspiracy against his family. The revelation hardens his resolve for revenge.

Marakkar dies while trying to rescue the Kolathiri Raja and queen; his efforts fail against Kuruppu's forces. Kunjali, a trusted slave, saves Marakkar's daughter Lalia with the help of his men. He is later sold into slavery himself.

From his knowledge, Kunjali tells Udayan where Marakkar's treasures and Lalia have been taken. The information becomes the key to Udayan's later fortunes and his plan for revenge. The knowledge feeds Udayan's growing plan.

After some years, Devan ascends as Kolathiri Raja and marries Parvathi. The royal sceptre goes missing, sowing further discontent in the court. The kingdom grows unstable as schemes proliferate.

Udayan and his fellow slaves mutiny on the slave ship, killing the captain Moopan and freeing themselves. They discover the treasure and he emerges as a wealthy merchant known as Thampan. He vows to return to Kolathirinadu for revenge.

Disguised as a merchant Thampan and a princess, Udayan returns to Kolathirinadu with Lalia, Marakkar's heir. Queen Parvathi recognizes Udayan at a glance, revealing his true identity to the kingdom. The return marks the beginning of his staged comeback.

Prince Chandran, Devan and Parvathi's son, falls in love with Lalia, complicating loyalties within the royal household. Udayan begins plotting to trap Perumana Kuruppu by leveraging Lalia's identity in court. Lalia asserts her lineage and becomes central to the political maneuvering.

In the court, Lalia declares her true identity as Marakkar's heir and the eyewitness to the earlier treachery. Perumana Kuruppu, cornered by the lack of evidence, kills himself. The revelation shifts the balance of power back toward Udayan.

Kammaran repeats an old trap by luring Devan with a large tribute, but Devan arrives with a cash chest containing soldiers and exposes the plot. Kammaran escapes and aligns with Kompan, renewing their plan against Udayan. The pursuit intensifies as old enemies regroup.

Kammaran and Kompan raid the palace, but Udayan's timely army intervenes and destroys them. Lalia is handed over to Parvathi, symbolizing reconciliation. Udayan walks away, having settled the blood-soaked score but leaving the future open to interpretation.