Year: 2017
Runtime: 153 mins
Language: Tamil
Director: Jeeva Shankar
In a malicious world of ruthless politicians and gangsters, a common man develops a dream to make it big in politics and takes on a few big shots.
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Set against the turbulent political backdrop of the 1980s, the story unfolds as a cautionary tale about how ambition, loyalty, and vengeance spiral through a family and into the broader arena of power. Karunakaran [Thyagarajan] is chosen for the MLA seat by Thangapandi’s father, not by Thangapandi himself, setting a tone of fractured trust from the start. At the same time, Agaliya gives birth to Tamizharasan, the son who will later become a central figure in a new decades-spanning drama. Thangapandi [Charle] grows desperate to assert control, colluding with Agaliya’s brother Kathir to eliminate Arivudai Nambi, hoping to seize the MLA post for himself. One fateful night, Thangapandi and Nambi’s brother-in-law brutally murder Arivudai Nambi, and Kathir is killed by Pandi [Arul D. Shankar], a sequence that reverberates through the family and politics alike. Agaliya’s own life unravels in tragedy, and Pandi’s rise to power as MLA is sealed. The child Tamizharasan is raised by Arivudai Nambi’s father, a quiet early note in a story saturated with public duty and private wounds.
Fast forward thirty years, and Tamizharasan—often called Tamizh—faces a world where money, influence, and danger intersect. His grandfather is forced to undergo a costly cancer operation, and a chance wallet recovery at a bar pulls Tamizh into a web of deals and debts. Govindan [Swaminathan] is the man who later receives a cryptic call: someone will go to jail for an accident, and a heavy payment awaits. Tamizh negotiates a higher price and ends up in jail, where he encounters Manimaran [G. Marimuthu] and confronts Selvaa [Jayakumar], marking the start of a brutal, personal education in the rough politics and crime that dominate his world. A sequence of escapes, fights, and close calls follows, including a mercy-filled rescue of Manimaran after an assassination attempt in jail, and a motorcycle crash that leads Tamizh to meet Anjana [Miya George], with whom he develops a deepening romance.
Manimaran’s death soon follows, and Karunakaran [Thyagarajan] turns out to have been the one who called Tamizh’s life into this precarious orbit, stepping in to protect him when danger seems closest. Tamizh’s path crosses with Pandi’s ally Thiyagu [Charle], and he begins to see the larger machine at work behind the violence. Pandi leases Tamizh a bar behind Central station, weaving Tamizh further into the political theater. Selvam [some actor] and Pandi scheme to kill Tamizh, but Tamizh fights back, beating hired killers and pressing forward. In a tense encounter, Selvam is forced to reveal that Pandi ordered the hit on Tamizh, a revelation that culminates in Pandi killing Selvam just as the truth comes out. The momentum toward politics hardens Tamizh’s resolve to seek a public role beyond the street and jailhouse politics he’s survived so far.
As Tamizh contemplates a future in governance, Anjana reveals that she has been harassed by a caller who seems to wield political protection. This revelation drives Tamizh to enter the political arena with a sharper focus on justice and accountability. He confronts Pandi over his son’s actions, warning that the family cannot shield abuse and coercion any longer. The threats against Tamizh intensify: goons attack through Molotov cocktails, and Tamizh’s grandfather’s condition worsens, eventually leading to his death. In the wake of grief, Anjana and Tamizh grow closer, and Tamizh publicly acknowledges his love as he begins to assemble a political platform.
Tamizh’s strategy evolves into a broader plan to confront corruption and to elevate Thiyagu [Charle] as a witness against Pandi’s machinations. He enlists Sakthi [actor], his henchman, to pressure Thiyagu’s family into speaking against Pandi, a move that showcases the film’s blend of loyalty, coercion, and the cost of truth. Tamizh’s private life continues to flourish as he marries Anjana, with Karunakaran present at the wedding, signaling a fragile reconciliation between old loyalties and new ambitions. Tamizh announces his intent to contest the election as a representative of Veera Tamizhar Muentra Kazhagam (VTMK), embracing the role of a reformer or at least a challenger to the entrenched power structure.
The web tightens as Karunakaran [Thyagarajan] and Thangapandi [Arul D. Shankar] fear Tamizh’s rising influence and plan to silence him before the elections. Pandi’s faction promises violence, and the party uses political leverage to pressure the courts and the electorate. Thiyagu’s family is kidnapped, and Thiyagu himself is drawn into danger as the conspiracy deepens. In a climactic riot at a rally, Tamizh’s goons strike down Councillor Anbazhagan, and Thangapandi’s forces escalate the conflict by abducting Thiyagu. The storm culminates at Karunakaran’s funeral, where Tamizh publicly accuses Thangapandi of masterminding the killings and rightfully exposes the corruption that taints both politics and crime.
In a final, dramatic reversal, Tamizh wins the MLA election and confronts the remnants of the conspiracy in an abandoned warehouse. There, he fatally hangs Pandi, morally avenging his father’s death and sealing a personal victory that mirrors the broader themes of justice versus power that drive the entire narrative. The film closes with Tamizh stepping into a new political chapter, armed with determination, memory, and a hard-won sense of responsibility to the people he vows to serve.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:59
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where the pursuit of justice requires becoming the monster.If you liked the cutthroat world of politics and revenge in Yaman, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature ambitious protagonists battling systemic corruption, often at a great personal cost, blending high-stakes action with heavy moral dilemmas.
The narrative typically follows a determined protagonist, often an outsider, who seeks to expose or destroy a corrupt institution. Their journey is one of moral descent, where the methods used to achieve justice become increasingly violent and questionable, culminating in a victory that feels hollow or bittersweet.
These films are grouped by their shared focus on political intrigue, systemic corruption, and the heavy emotional toll of seeking power or revenge. They create a tense, oppressive atmosphere where the line between hero and villain is constantly blurred.
A personal quest for revenge that spans generations and defines a legacy.For viewers who appreciated the themes of revenge and family legacy in Yaman, this section features movies with similar emotional journeys. These are heavy, character-driven stories about individuals consumed by a vendetta that dictates their life's path.
The narrative structure is often propelled by a past trauma or murder that fuels the protagonist's ambition. The story unfolds over a significant period, methodically connecting past events to present-day actions, focusing on the psychological cost and the cyclical nature of violence within a family or community.
They share a core focus on revenge as a primary motivator, intertwined with themes of family honor, legacy, and the heavy psychological burden of a long-planned vendetta. The tone is consistently dark and tense, with a steady, deliberate pacing that builds towards a cathartic but costly conclusion.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Yaman in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Yaman is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
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