Taanakkaran

Arivu, a top-ranked recruit, arrives at the Police Recruit School in 1999. He befriends fellow trainees, including older members of the 1982 batch who have waited years for placement. The training camp atmosphere is tense as instructors glare at both new and old recruits.

The 1982 batch finally joins the PRS after a long court battle, but they are looked down upon by many trainers and younger recruits. Their placement in 1999 creates an uneasy dynamic at the camp. The older trainees bring both experience and resentment into the ranks.

Eshwaramurthy, known for brutal discipline and extreme training (Extra Drill), asserts control from day one. He makes it clear that Arivu and his batch will be crushed if they resist. The atmosphere grows hostile as punishments mount.

On the first day, a member of the 1982 batch protests the lack of proper toilet facilities and is severely punished by Eshwaramurthy. The incident triggers harsh reprisals and sets a climate of fear. Arivu begins to see the brutality at the core of the system.

Eshwaramurthy marks Arivu as a rival and plots ways to break him. He devises tactical punishments to demotivate and eliminate the threat. Arivu refuses to quit and urges his fellow trainees to stand up.

Arivu reports corruption, bribery, and favoritism to the Commandant, trying to expose the rot at the PRS. The staff's complicity appears to shield the abusive practices. The situation intensifies as trust erodes.

A trainee from the 1982 batch dies due to an ED punishment, sparking riots inside the PRS. The incident becomes a flashpoint that exposes the system's brutality. Arivu's resolve to challenge the status quo hardens.

Arivu and his friends are shifted from Eshwaramurthy's team to Sellakkannu's, a principled trainer who commands little respect but practices fairness. Sellakkannu advises Arivu that honesty is rarely rewarded in the force, yet Arivu chooses to stay true to his ideals. The leadership's protection of the old guard is implied in the new dynamic.

A flashback reveals Arivu's determination rooted in his late father Rajendran's dream of becoming a police officer. The moment deepens his motivation and explains why he endures the harsh training. It also contextualizes his stubborn resolve to prove himself.

Eshwaramurthy issues a direct challenge: if Arivu's team wins the parade, Eshwaramurthy will quit; if Eshwaramurthy wins, Arivu will leave the police. The stakes are raised as pride and legacy hang in the balance. The challenge intensifies rivalries and tests leadership.

Muthupandi schemes to rig the outcome by feeding Sellakkannu wrong commands and offering a promotion to push Arivu's team to lose. The plan exposes the corrupt politics driving the training program. Arivu and his allies push to counter the manipulation.

In the final parade, Arivu's team delivers a disciplined and spirited performance and wins the competition. However, the senior officers declare Eshwaramurthy's team as the winners to preserve a long-standing legacy. The moment is bittersweet, highlighting continued corruption despite a visible triumph.

Dejected by the outcome, Arivu considers quitting the force. Mathi motivates him by arguing that change is possible only if energetic youngsters join and reform from within. Inspired by the talk, Arivu decides to stay in the police and work toward a better system.