Manithan 2016

The film opens with a reckless race on a busy road: a drunk Rahul Dewan speeds a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado against an Audi, drawn in by a seductive passenger, only to lose control and slam into a wall along the footpath. The scene shifts to a tense court room where the judge, Justice Dhanapal, presides over a high-stakes case involving a surgeon who operated on a pregnant woman in a bid to break a Guinness record. Justice Dhanapal, played by Radha Ravi, rules that the surgeon’s actions may be controversial but the evidence against him is not clear enough to pursue a conviction, and Rahul Dewan’s alleged crime against the public ends in an acquittal.

Sakthivel, an ambitious LLB graduate, soon arrives in Chennai with dreams of making a name in the capital’s legal circles. Sakthivel, Udhayanidhi Stalin is impressed by the prowess of a famed criminal lawyer, Adhiseshan, who defends Rahul in the sessions court. Adhiseshan, a brilliant but morally complex attorney, convinces the presiding judge that the prosecution lacks solid evidence and suggests the media is targeting Rahul simply because he comes from a powerful, wealthy family. The verdict is a narrow acquittal, facilitated by a combination of legal maneuvering and public perception.

This outcome prompts Sakthivel to pursue justice on his own terms. He files a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in court challenging Rahul Dewan’s acquittal, seeking a deeper examination of the case beyond sensational press coverage. Initially, Sakthi’s filings are seen as ambitious but misguided, and Justice Dhanapal warns him to gather credible evidence before the next hearing. In the course of his investigation, Sakthi meets Vijay Nair, who claims to have witnessed the accident. Sakthi introduces Vijay as a key witness in court, and Dhanapal schedules the next hearing, ordering Rahul to appear.

Sakthi’s sudden rise to celebrity status brings both praise and trouble. The restaurant owner Moorthy, who runs a bustling venue, donates a room to Sakthi to use as an office, celebrating the young lawyer’s new-found fame. Yet the truth behind Vijay Nair’s testimony begins to unravel: Vijay is revealed to be a willing conspirator of Adhiseshan, part of a broader plan to extract more money from the Dewan family. Nair returns a portion of the hush money to Sakthi, and Sakthi, oblivious to the breach of ethical lines, accepts the payment and rails against what he perceives as his own misfortune. Priya Dharmalingam—the cousin and fiancée of Sakthi, portrayed by Hansika Motwani—chides him for compromising justice for personal gain. Moorthy publicly admonishes Sakthi for his treachery, slaps him, and challenges him to fight for genuine justice rather than easy money.

With renewed resolve, Sakthi enlists the help of his uncle Surya, Vivek, to gather crucial evidence. They obtain video footage showing the Land Cruiser involved in the crash, a breakthrough that allows Sakthi to challenge Adhiseshan’s account in court. Sakthi presents the footage and persuades the court that the Dewan driver was responsible, despite Adhiseshan’s insistence that the car’s driver from the Dewan side committed the act. Dhanapal, who remains a steady, if overburdened, presence in the case, orders police protection for Sakthi after he is assaulted by people close to Adhiseshan.

The search for the truth leads Sakthi and his team to Vandavasi, where a survivor from the crash is believed to be hiding. On the way, a separate assault on Sakthi and Priya nearly derails their investigation when a lorry collides with them, injuring Priya. In the hospital, Muthupandi reveals he knows nothing about the survivor’s whereabouts; nevertheless, Sakthi and his allies persevere and seek the truth. The chase is complicated by a police conspiracy in Vandavasi, where Inspector Selvam attempts to thwart Sakthi’s inquiry and where a key witness is in danger of being silenced.

Undeterred, Sakthi turns his attention to Kamalakannan, a witness who survived a brutal attempt on his life. Kamalakannan reveals that he woke in the night to see Rahul emerging from a bloodied car and witnessing the ensuing chaos, only to be targeted. His testimony is essential in linking Rahul to the crimes over which Adhiseshan hopes to save him. The courtroom finally begins to tilt in Sakthi’s favor as Kamalakannan’s statement is corroborated, and the police’s mishandling of the case is laid bare. The courtroom’s proceedings push toward a pivotal moment: the judge must decide whether the evidence points to Rahul as the driver and the perpetrator.

In a dramatic culmination, Dhanapal suspends Selvam and orders a criminal inquiry into the police mishandling, while declaring Rahul guilty of the charges under the Indian Penal Code—first under Section 304 for causing death by negligence and then under Section 307 for attempted murder. The verdict represents a resounding defeat for Adhiseshan, who watches his carefully built plan crumble in the face of undeniable evidence. Sakthi’s team erupts in cautious celebration, but Priya’s stern reminder that justice must not be tainted by greed lingers in the air. The film closes on a note of restrained triumph: the legal system, with its flaws and complexities, has finally delivered a verdict that aligns with the facts, even as the personal journeys of the key players—Sakthi, Adhiseshan, and the Dewan family—continue to unfold beyond the courtroom.