Peruchazhi 2014

In California, Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kory is fighting to lift his dismal poll numbers. His chief adviser, Sunny Kurishingal, has run out of ideas and seeks help from an unexpected source: a Kerala Public Works minister and trusted ally, Francis Kunjappan. Kunjappan, who also harbors a political rivalry with Jagannathan, recommends his friend and rival Jagannathan, a young, sports‑crazy politician who speaks little English but possesses a calm, pragmatic knack for solving problems. Intrigued by Jagannathan’s potential, Kunjappan offers him a lucrative deal—₹30 crore—to turn his dream of owning a sports academy into reality, and Jagannathan accepts, heading to the United States with his aides Pottakkuzhy Jabbar and Vayalar Varkey.

Once in the US, Sunny outlines the job and the political landscape. Unlike India, the United States is run by two major parties, and the Democratic candidate George Hope appears to be well ahead in California. Jagannathan begins to apply Indian political tactics—shaping media narratives, recruiting screenwriters to craft persuasive speeches, and leveraging a network of contacts, including a Chinese contact named Dupli who deals in counterfeit electronics. At the same time, Jagannathan looks for a life partner and meets a prostitute, Jessy; the pair soon fall into a tender, unlikely romance amidst the whirlwind of the campaign.

As Jagannathan’s methods gain traction, Kory’s poll numbers climb, propelled by the unconventional strategies he brings to the table. Then a troubling development surfaces: a compromising video of Kory with a girl has been leaked. Although all copies are said to be destroyed, the original is rumored to be hidden in Hope’s vault. Jagannathan takes possession of the video from Hope’s house, sending a message to Sunny that the tape is effectively destroyed. With the campaign nearing its end, Kory seems poised for victory.

But the win is abruptly altered when Sunny discovers the campaign has overspent, and he withholds Jagannathan’s fee, promising a cabinet post if the consultant can trim costs. Jagannathan presses for his money, explaining that part of it would be used to secure Jessy’s child, but Sunny refuses to pay. Realizing he has been cheated, Jagannathan vows to derail Kory’s chances the next day. He arrives with funds, though the source remains unclear, and Kory’s loss shocks the Republican party. In a final twist, Jagannathan reveals that he aligned with Andy and Hope, who paid his fee. With Dupli’s help, Jagannathan replaces the voting machines with duplicates, ensuring an edge in the outcome.

The plot thickens as the video survives destruction thanks to a copy made by Jabbar. The media eventually releases it, tipping the result. Jagannathan, along with Jessy and his friends, returns to India, leaving behind the US political theater to open his own sports academy, a dream realized at last.