By The People 2005

Two years after the events in 4 the People, Rajan Mathew [narain] has moved into an administrative post after being shifted for his role in the earlier clashes, while the remaining trio—Arvind Sebastian [arun], Eswar [arjun-bose], and Shafeek [padma-kumar]—sit behind bars. Inspired by the four, a band of college students calling themselves Pulse forms a more aggressive crew to fight corruption, sparked by a brutal incident where a student’s suicide is mocked and she is denied a loan. The group’s spark becomes a blaze as a porter, Sudhakaran [vinayakan], an auto driver, Sathyan [sreejith-ravi], and a one-legged member rally under the banner of “By the people.”

The new insurgents begin striking at corrupt figures, starting with the bank manager who abetted the student’s tragedy. Soon, more targets fall, and Rajan is reinstated as SP to track and corral the escalating menace. When the four learn of his return, they kidnap him and work to win the trust of his wife through their ally Kamini. Rajan’s investigation then cuts a path toward a powerful kingmaker and minister, Paramasivam, who wields control over media and politics. Rajan records conversations between Paramasivam, godman Harihar ji, and other tycoons in a bid to expose them, but a rotten system bites back: his own superiors betray him, he’s attacked for the tape, his pregnant wife is murdered, and the incriminating footage goes missing. He is reassigned as a Jail Superintendent, while the remaining members of the original four are imprisoned. The crushing realization hits him: the system is compromised, and those he once trusted are against him.

Four students launch an assault on Paramasivam at his vacation house, aiming to bomb him when he arrives, but they are ultimately killed. With the Pulse faction now aligned with By the people, Rajan becomes their chief adviser, dedicating himself to eradicating corruption and seeking vengeance. The first victim is inspector Thomas, Rajan’s corrupt former superior, killed when a roller coaster he inaugurates goes off track—an act orchestrated by the group. Investigating officer Balan Nambiar arrives at their door, hot on the trail but lacking solid evidence; he senses that Harihar ji and Paramasivam may be next. Hariharji is killed at a resort, and Rajan’s videotape resurfaces when a junkyard owner returns it to the media. Although the footage becomes public, it fails to serve as court evidence, and Paramasivam is acquitted.

The team hatches a final plan to extinguish Paramasivam at a rally, aided by a network of supporters. Kamini is nabbed while attempting to bomb the minister, and Sathyan, Sudhakaran, and others are shot or captured by Balan. Paramasivam pushes ahead with the rally, which culminates at a Portugal cultural festival. Rajan swiftly frees the imprisoned members of “By the people”, who arrive incognito at the venue and assassinate Paramasivam at point-blank range. Balan pursues them but discovers them behind bars again, with no evidence of their escape. As he leaves, he praises Rajan for a clever, trace-free takedown of the corrupt cabal, and with a final nod to the band Pulse, he mutters the signature line:

Hasta la vista