Devathayai Kanden 2005

In Chennai, Dhanush plays Babu, a steady, warm-hearted tea vendor who keeps his small business alive by pedaling a bicycle through the city and serving milk tea with a smile. He leads a simple life, but his days take a hopeful turn when he falls for Uma, a wealthy college student whose world looks very different from his own. The romance between Babu and Sridevi Vijayakumar–portrayed Uma–unfolds with a quiet chemistry, built on mutual respect and a shared sense of decency. Babu’s good nature draws Uma in, and for a time, life seems to align with the dream of two people from opposite ends of society finding common ground.

Uma’s parents envision a different future for their daughter: they arrange for Bala, a affluent, well-educated suitor, to become her husband. Bala’s comforts represent a life of ease and opportunity that contrasts starkly with Babu’s frugal, laboring existence. Uma faces a painful internal conflict. The film lays out a stark mental contrast for her: if she stays with Babu, she fears a life where money is scarce and medical expenses loom large; if she marries Bala, she imagines a life where every want is catered to, and status smooths every path. The narrative keeps her dilemma nuanced, showing both the emotional pull of true affection and the security of a privileged future.

While Babu travels on a religious trip to Sabarimala, Uma’s resolve hardens toward Bala, and she ultimately agrees to marry him to preserve a life of comfort and stability. When Babu learns of this decision, his world shakes. He is heartbroken not only by love lost, but by what he perceives as a betrayal of their shared hopes. The relationship strains under the strain of social class, and Babu’s sense of being dismissed by Uma and her family deepens the ache he feels inside.

The story takes a sudden, painful turn after a Valentine’s Day gathering when Babu, overwhelmed by despair, attempts to take his own life. He is arrested and brought to the police station, where an inspector subjects him to harsh treatment. The moment is pivotal: Babu’s friend, the orphaned Kaduppu Subramani [Karunas], speaks up for him, pleading with the authorities that there is no one to look after them if something happens to either of them. This plea shifts the inspector’s approach and leads to a more humane consideration of Babu’s circumstances, setting the stage for a courtroom confrontation that reaches far beyond a single love story.

In a bold, unconventional move, Babu files a case against Uma, not merely to win her back, but to press the point that a promise to share a life together for fifty years should be treated with seriousness and accountability. The case quickly becomes a topic of public conversation, drawing attention to the sacrifices Babu has quietly made and the social dynamics that shaped Uma’s decision. Throughout the proceedings, more is revealed about the depths of Babu’s loyalty and the extent of his willingness to endure hardship for the sake of their possible future together.

As witnesses come forward and memories are revisited, the public learns of the quiet compromises Babu has made for Uma’s sake. The narrative paints a picture of a man who has given up comforts, who has faced social judgment, and who has endured personal pain with dignity. Uma, confronted with the consequences of her choices, undergoes a transformation as she witnesses the extent of Babu’s devotion and the costs his love has incurred. The courtroom becomes a space where truth, sacrifice, and the social pressures of class and education are laid bare, and Uma’s stance begins to shift.

By the final day of the hearing, Uma experiences a change of heart and contemplates reuniting with Babu. The moment arrives when she approaches him with a rose, symbolizing reconciliation. Yet Babu holds steady in his resolve. He refuses to accept her gesture as a trivial concession. He explains that his case was never about winning her back for himself but about preventing others from suffering similar heartbreak and injustice. He speaks plainly, acknowledging the realities of their different worlds: yesterday she may have despised him for his lack of status, today she may feel affection, yet tomorrow she could again drift away. He also reveals a personal vulnerability—his limited command of English—which he feels contributed to their misunderstandings and her decision to leave him. As they part at the courthouse, his final word to her is simple and poignant: “Goodbye.”

The film, told through a careful balance of romance, social critique, and courtroom drama, emphasizes the dignity of a man who chooses integrity over possession and the courage it takes to challenge a social system that advantages some and underestimates others. The cast brings to life a cast of supporting figures who illuminate the stakes of the central conflict, from friends who stand by Babu to family members who embody contrasting expectations of success and security. The resolution arrives not in a sweeping declaration of triumph, but in a quiet, mature understanding that love can endure in the right form, and that justice sometimes means protecting people from future pain, even when it costs something deeply personal.

Goodbye