Kavan 2017

Thilak, played by Vijay Sethupathi, is a hard-hitting news anchor at Zen One TV, a channel owned by Kalyan. Kalyan is a powerful, corrupt media baron who feeds on sensationalism to boost TRP and maintains a tight, lucrative alliance with Dheeran Maniarasu, a formidable politician. The network thrives on getting exclusive scoops while keeping a lid on anything that might hurt their ally, Dheeran, and the newsroom culture is shaped by kickbacks, scripted narratives, and a non-ethical approach to journalism. Within this toxic ecosystem, Malar, the ex-girlfriend of Thilak, also works at Zen One. Though she initially tries to keep her distance, she gradually rekindles the old flame, and they reconcile, finding a fragile balance between their professional duties and personal history.

Kalpana, a social activist, becomes the catalyst for the storm when she is assaulted by Dheeran’s goons after protesting the pesticide factory that has devastated a once-prosperous village. Kalpana’s friend is left facing blame, as Abdul Kader is branded responsible. Kalpana is smuggled out of the hospital by Thilak, Ashok, and Malar, and she agrees to lay out her story on air. The live confession draws massive public support, bolstering Kalpana’s cause and turning up the heat on Zen One and Dheeran. But Kalyan counters with a second video that casts Kalpana as mentally ill, suggesting she is merely trying to tarnish Dheeran with a mental-health defense. This new angle forces Thilak to push back, even as Zen One orders him to frame questions in a way that keeps the sensational narrative intact. A brawl erupts between Thilak and Dheeran, and Thilak ends up assaulting Ashok, the person responsible for producing the defaming video. The clash exposes the newsroom’s corruption, and Thilak is fired and blacklisted across the major networks. Malar, Jagan, and two colleagues—Nishandhini and Aarthi—walk out in solidarity, and they too find themselves barred from the top stations.

With nowhere else to go, Thilak, Malar, Jagan, Nishandhini, and Aarthi join Muthamizh TV, a struggling local outlet steered by Mayilvaganan. The team shifts focus to the pesticide factory’s impact on villagers, airing on Muthamizh and echoing Kalpana’s plight. Thilak gives voice to Abdul and Kalpana’s side, broadcasting their testimonies alongside footage of Dheeran’s assault on Kalpana at the Zen One studio. The exposure shakes Zen One and Dheeran and prompts Kalyan to seek revenge by orchestrating a bomb blast at the DC’s office, with Dheeran’s help, blaming Abdul and casting it as a terrorist attack. The Central Government shuts down Muthamizh’s coverage, branding it as subversive, and Thilak and his allies become targets of state pressure as they fight to keep the truth alive.

On the run, Thilak captures a revelation from Abdul showing he was framed, and he also records a video of Ashok and the police plotting a fake encounter to kill Abdul. With the help of Jagan, Aarthi, and Nishandhini, all three rejoin Zen One long enough to broadcast both videos, turning the tables on Kalyan and Dheeran. The renewed exposure extends to Pillai, the Zen One chief editor who had silently endured the abuses of management. Their incriminating footage is ultimately recorded by the Police Commissioner, who has been working undercover in Muthamizh. Faced with undeniable evidence, Kalyan and Dheeran confess to their crimes, and both are arrested. The group—Thilak, Mayilvaganan, Malar, Jagan, Pillai, Nisha, and Aishwarya—celebrate their hard-won victory, having brought systemic corruption to light and secured accountability for those who treated the truth as a tool for power.