Periyar 2007

The film traces the life of Periyar Sathyaraj E. V. Ramasamy from childhood, through his marriage to Nagammal Jyothirmayi, and a pivotal pilgrimage to Kashi that exposes him to the brutal caste system. In the holy city, he witnesses choultries that exclusively feed Brahmins, while other Hindu castes are turned away. Driven by hunger and a restless sense of injustice, he disguises himself as a Brahmin, wearing a thread on his bare chest to gain entry. The act backfires—he is caught—and the experience leaves him deeply disgusted with life in Kashi. Returning home, he resumes his father’s business and ultimately rises to become the Chairman of the Erode Municipality.

As his public life expands, the narrative follows Periyar’s move from local administration to national struggle. He resigns from the municipal post to join the freedom movement, and soon becomes the President of the Madras Presidency Congress Committee, taking part in the Vaikom struggle that underscores his commitment to reform. The film does not shy away from his disillusionment with the Congress party after it fails to push through reservations, prompting him to leave and join the Justice Party. He would go on to transform that party into Dravidar Kazhagam, reshaping Tamil political discourse. The arc incorporates encounters with reformers and peers, including B. R. Ambedkar [Mohan Raman], illustrating the broader social currents of the era.

In its later chapters, the film places a strong focus on Periyar’s ongoing social activism, his second marriage to Maniammai [Khushboo], and the enduring evolution of the Dravidian movement. His lieutenant C. N. Annadurai, portrayed by S. S. Stanley, plays a pivotal role in the party’s transformation and the eventual birth of the DMK. The story unfolds to chronicle Periyar’s lasting influence on Tamil politics and society, culminating with his death and the way his ideas continue to reverberate through the movements that followed.