Yaathisai

A disclaimer declares the film a work of fiction, and the tale is framed by an old bald man who narrates to a 10-year-old boy in a forest. The old man sets the stage for a saga about Ranadheera Pandiyan and Kothi. The framing establishes the legend as a legend rather than history.

Ranadheera Pandiyan builds a vast Pandyan empire in present-day Tamil Nadu and defeats rival dynasties such as the Cheras, Cholas, and Pallavas. His military prowess earns him unwavering loyalty and enemies in equal measure, and the people begin to fear his rule. The era spans CE 670-710.

Uri, the dethroned Chola king, hides with his beaten army in a remote mountain forest, waiting for a chance to strike the Pandyas. He hopes to recruit Kothi as an ally if the opportunity arises. This sets the stage for a shadow war between rival powers.

Kothi, a young warrior from the Einar clan living in exile, secretly meets Uri and vows to topple Ranadheera Pandiyan. Uri acknowledges the vow and promises reinforcements if Kothi succeeds in capturing the Chola fort and killing the Pandya king. Kothi returns to his village with resolve to fulfill the oath.

Kothi wrestles the village alpha but wins respect through his chivalry and leadership. He gathers information about the Pandyan king's visit to a hilltop shrine and plans an ambush with his tribes. He also seeks the aid of a priest to help prepare the war rites.

From dusk until dawn, Kothi and his men perform ancient Tamil war rituals with a village priest, offering animals and human sacrifices to the war goddess Kotravai. The rites are meant to bless the ambush against Ranadheera Pandiyan. The sacrifices underscore the high stakes of the confrontation.

Kothi and his warriors ambush Ranadheera Pandiyan and his small guard on the path to a hilltop shrine. The Greek and local guards form a formidable Phalanx, resisting the assault and paying heavy losses. Pandyan escapes toward a nearby hill with his officers after brave Greeks sacrifice themselves, and he destroys the bridge to prevent pursuit.

With the Pandyan advance blunted, Kothi's men seize the Chola fort and massacre the surrendered soldiers. Inside the fortress, Kothi proclaims himself king and dons the Pandyan crown. He sends messengers to Uri, but those envoys are intercepted and killed by Ranadheera Pandiyan's guards.

Kothi becomes enthralled with a temple dancer brought into the fort and takes her as his concubine, later impregnating her. She initially recoils but gradually accepts Kothi as her Lord Kannan. The personal turn marks a shift in his ascent and complicates his rule.

Ranadheera Pandiyan, unable to summon his main army, seeks help from the Perumpalli hill tribe. The matriarch demands that Pandiyan marry a Perumpalli maiden to secure the tribe's seed for the throne. The union is consummated as a political alliance rather than love.

The Perumpalli army marches to the Chola fort, encamping outside the walls and pressing their advantage. Some of Kothi's trusted commanders fear the siege is unwinnable and mutiny begins to simmer. The siege intensifies as their numbers threaten Kothi's control of the fort.

Kothi agrees to a duel with Ranadheera Pandiyan, a ritual witnessed by shamans and the gods. The fight is brutal and Kothi is mortally wounded, refusing to kneel. Ranadheera honors his fallen foe with funeral rites and reclaims the throne.