Paruthiveeran

The film unfolds in a rural village called Paruthiyur, near Madurai, in 2005, where caste lines dictate everyday life. The community ostracizes people from inter-caste unions, setting the stage for conflict. The social climate colors every relationship and decision the characters make.

After his parents die, Paruthiveeran is raised by his paternal uncle Chevvaazhai and his grandmother. Chevvaazhai spoils him and keeps him company in mischief, trying to shield him from the consequences of his behavior. This indulgent upbringing helps shape his brazen, rebellious nature.

As he grows, Paruthi becomes a village troublemaker, bullying locals for money and amusement. He harbors a singular ambition to gain notoriety and end up in the Madras Jail. His actions alienate many, while his thirst for fame drives his lifestyle.

Paruthi saves Muththazhagu from drowning when they are children, forging a lifelong connection. She promises to marry him, and a deep affection grows between them despite their different castes. Their bond is tested by family expectations and social pressure.

Muththazhagu falls in love with Paruthi, but her parents disapprove of their inter-caste romance. To keep options open, she intentionally underperforms in school so she remains in the same grade, delaying any arranged marriage. The feud between families becomes a looming obstacle.

Paruthi goes to Kazhuvathevan Servai's house to ask for Muththazhagu's hand in marriage. He is publicly shamed, and in the ensuing melee he threatens to cut her into pieces if she marries someone else. The threat highlights the brutal reality of the feud.

Undeterred by the disapproval and threats, Muththazhagu runs away from home to be with Paruthi. The couple decides to elope, determined to cement their bond despite caste barriers. The escape marks a turning point in the tragedy.

While hiding to arrange their marriage, Muththazhagu is mistaken for a prostitute by four of Paruthi's acquaintances. They brutally gang-rape her and leave her to die in an abandoned building. The assault sets off the chain of events that follows.

Paruthi returns to the site to find Muththazhagu bleeding and near death. She begs him to cut her into pieces so nobody can find her in her current state. He is overwhelmed but tries to protect her as danger closes in.

Overcome by grief and rage, Paruthi cuts his love's body and then rushes toward Kazhuvathevan's approaching kin. He announces he will not let her be married off, even in death, as he storms toward the mob. This act marks his final defiance against the feud.

Kazhuvathevan and his henchmen arrive, discovering the mutilated body and brutally beating Paruthi. The violence of the feud erupts as the mob closes in. The tragedy marks the village's brutal enforcement of caste loyalties.

As Paruthi bleeds out, his mind replays the time he shared with Muththazhagu. The memory of their childhood promise and love flashes before him just as his life ends. The tragedy seals the cost of inter-caste hatred in Paruthiyur.