Murugan, Mohanlal lives in Puliyoor, a small forest village that is constantly shadowed by man-eating Royal Bengal Tigers and the friction that comes with frequent human-wildlife encounters. When he was a boy, Murugan’s mother died after his brother Manikuttan was born, and soon after, his father was killed by a tiger. In a bid for vengeance, Murugan traps and kills the tiger with the help of his uncle Lal. Years later, Murugan has become a truck driver who shares his life with his wife, Myna, Kamalinee Mukherjee and their daughter Chakki. He continues to hunt and kill rogue tigers that intrude on the village, earning the villagers’ respect and the nickname Pulimurugan for his prowess. He remains deeply protective of Manikuttan, who is about to finish his MBA in Mangalore.
One day, Kadutha, the village chief, meets a hooded stranger who asks about Murugan for a hunting assignment. Murugan has been away from Puliyoor for days, and the tigers have claimed more lives. Kadutha explains that Manikuttan’s friends Benny Noby Marcose and Shiva Bala have arrived in the village, sent by Manikuttan to see Balaraman. Shiva’s father, Daddy Girija Jagapati Babu, runs a pharmaceutical company pursuing a cancer drug and seeks ganja from the forest. If the medical research succeeds, Manikuttan will be offered a job in the company, and Balaraman helps them seal the arrangement. They strike a deal with Ramaiya, an illegal ganja dealer, and, on their return, they encounter a tiger. Murugan steps in and kills it, saving the group.
Meanwhile, Manikuttan returns home after his final examinations. Forest officials uncover the dead tiger’s carcass at Thookupara, which violates the Indian Wildlife Protection Act and is a non-bailable offense. Forest ranger R. K Kishore is assigned to investigate and carries a four-year-old grudge against Murugan, stemming from a prior incident where Murugan had thwarted a molestation attempt on Myna. Seizing the moment, R. K plans to file an FIR against Murugan, forcing him to go into hiding. At the same time, DSP Iyep Zachariah arrives in Puliyoor, seemingly tasked with Murugan’s case. The ganja is loaded into Murugan’s lorry for transport to Mangalore.
Shiva and Benny learn that a Ramaiya confidant is in police custody, and fearing exposure, they decide to move the shipment overnight. Shiva offers Murugan sanctuary in Kasaragod under Daddy’s protection and deceives him by claiming the police are on his trail for the tiger killings. A team led by Zachariya comes to Murugan’s home, but Murugan and his family manage to slip away to Mangalore with the ganja, delivering it and securing Manikuttan’s job. Murugan earns Daddy’s trust by assisting in his illicit business, while more tigers strike Puliyoor.
In a confrontation with Zachariya, Murugan discovers that Daddy is also illegally producing hash oil and exporting it under cover of the pharmacy where Manikuttan works. Manikuttan cooperates with the cops to bring Daddy down, but Shiva tortures him when he is found attempting to extract evidence. Murugan rescues Manikuttan, and in the fight, Shiva is accidentally killed. The police ambush Daddy, but he escapes.
As the truth unfolds, the hooded stranger is revealed to be Daddy, seeking revenge for Shiva’s death. Daddy gathers a band of assassins and ambushes Balaraman and Poongayi Sasi Suraj Venjaramoodu, taking Balaraman prisoner and leaving Sasi badly wounded. Murugan returns home, determined to end Daddy’s reign. A fierce battle follows with the assassins; Murugan defeats them all but is forced to contend with Daddy himself. In the final moments, Murugan rescues Balaraman from a tiger’s den, defeats Daddy, and, as the tiger claims Daddy, pulls his ally from danger and escapes. The village’s protector stands tall, but the tale closes with the ever-present reminder of the delicate line between guardian and quarry in the forest.
