Taanakkaran 2022

Arivu is a young cop who has just topped his batch and is sent to a Police Recruit School (PRS) for training in 1999. He is joined by a close-knit group of friends and forms bonds with other trainees, including older recruits who had cleared their selections in 1982 but were kept waiting due to political maneuvering, finally getting placed in 1999 after a lengthy court battle. The older trainees, though seasoned, face mockery from many trainers who deem them unfit, yet [Arivu] stands up for them and helps keep their spirits alive as they chase a shared dream.

The PRS is run by Inspector Muthu Pandi, a stern but corrupt officer. His aide, Eshwaramurthy, is a strict and ruthless trainer whose record of brutal sessions—often labeled as Extra Drill (ED)—has even led to the deaths of some trainees. On the very first day, one of the ’82 batch dies under ED, sparking outrage. [Arivu] raises concerns about bribes, favoritism, and extreme punishments, bringing complaints to the Commandant and challenging the hidden rot within the academy.

Soon, [Arivu] and his friends are moved out of Eshwaramurthy’s team and placed under Sellakkannu, a kind-hearted trainer whose straightforward nature earns him little respect and keeps him stuck in a lower rank. Sellakkannu counsels Arivu to consider leaving the police, arguing that honesty doesn’t always pay off in this system, but Arivu remains stubbornly determined to prove that change is possible from within.

A brief flashback reveals Arivu’s unwavering resolve to join the police, rooted in his father Rajendran, who died when Arivu was young. This personal history fuels Arivu’s resolve to prove himself and to honor his father’s memory.

As the story unfolds, Arivu challenges Eshwaramurthy to a test of leadership and skill, hoping to dim the older man’s lofty confidence. The stakes are high: Eshwaramurthy vows that he will quit if Arivu’s team wins the parade, while Arivu counters that if Eshwaramurthy’s team prevails, he will leave the force. Behind the scenes, Counsellor Shahul Bai and other powers try to tilt the scales by pressuring Sellakkannu with the promise of a promotion through manipulative tactics, manipulating commands to throw Arivu off his game. Yet [Sellakkannu] stays loyal to Arivu and helps secure a hard-fought final victory for Arivu’s team.

In the end, the senior officers refuse to admit defeat and declare Eshwaramurthy’s team the winner to preserve the entrenched legacy, leaving Arivu feeling dejected and ready to walk away. But Mathi reminds him that the police system is deeply corrupted and that real change can occur only when energetic youngsters like Arivu stay and fight for reform. Inspired by this push, Arivu chooses to continue in the force, carrying with him the belief that a more just and accountable police service is possible if the brave new generation remains committed to the cause.