Abdul Razak [Siddique] and Fareeda [Praveena], a devout Muslim couple in Kerala, are expecting their first child. Razak longs for a son and hopes to name him Faizal and call him Faizi. But the baby is a girl, and Fareeda later gives birth to three more girls, which fuels Razak’s frustration and prompts him to migrate to Dubai. After this, Fareeda bears a boy, but the toll of multiple deliveries leaves her ill and she dies. Abdul Razak moves his five children to Dubai. Faizi is looked after by his four sisters, whom they affectionately call Ithathas & Company.
As Faizi grows, his sisters marry, and Razak remarries. Faizi dreams of becoming a chef rather than a hotelier, contrary to Razak’s dream of a five‑star hotel in Kozhikode. He studies at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and returns with fanfare, only to reveal that he trained to be a chef, not a hotel manager. This shatters Razak’s plans and jeopardizes a marriage proposal with Shahana [Nithya Menen], the daughter of a close business associate. In anger, Razak confiscates Faizi’s passport and credit cards, thwarting a London job as a sous‑chef at The Ivy. In response, Faizi travels to Kozhikode to stay with his grandfather Kareem [Thilakan], who has managed Ustad Hotel for 35 years.
Faizi settles into the life at Ustad Hotel, joining its daily rhythm and forming friendships with the local band Kallummakkayees. During a gig, the group’s lead singer is Shahana [Nithya Menen], who is secretly pursuing singing. Shahana reveals she is engaged and may lose her freedom soon, uttering the line: > today is the last day of my freedom. The performance becomes a hit, and Faizi and Shahana begin a partnership that blends personal and culinary ambitions.
A neighboring five‑star hotel named Beach Bay plans to seize Ustad Hotel’s land. Kareem, burdened by debt, faces mounting bank pressure and the threat of losing the restaurant. The Beach Bay owner bribes health inspectors to shut down Ustad Hotel for alleged hygienic violations. Faizi mobilizes the staff to renovate and reopen the place, and Shahana joins the effort, helping revive the restaurant. The refreshed Ustad Hotel thriving again attracts attention, and Faizi receives an offer to become an executive chef in Marseille, France.
Meanwhile, Kareem suffers a heart attack and asks Faizi to visit Narayanan Krishnan in Madurai, a humanitarian he had funded to feed the poor. Seeing the struggle of those in need, Faizi understands Kareem’s belief that “anyone can fill a stomach, but only a good cook can fill the heart as well.” When Faizi returns, Kareem decides to leave behind his worldly ties and embark on a pilgrimage to Sufi shrines in North India. Faizi chooses to stay with Ustad Hotel and help run it, ultimately marrying Shahana to strengthen their shared dream. Razak gradually softens and begins to support the restaurant, turning it into a profitable venture. The film closes with Kareem on his pilgrimage, a quiet testament to his lifelong quest.
