Aandavan Kattalai 2016

Gandhi and Pandi travel to Chennai to secure documents

Gandhi Arumugam, an accountant from a village near Madurai, travels to Chennai with his best friend Pandi to obtain the documents needed to go to London. They hope the venture will help them pay off their debts. In Chennai, they approach two middlemen who promise to secure passports and British tourist visas. The middlemen claim that being married helps qualify for the visas, so Gandhi and Pandi agree to add their wives' names to the documents.

Middlemen push marriage as visa workaround

To satisfy the marriage requirement, Gandhi and Pandi add a wife's name on their applications. Gandhi specifically adds Karmeghakuzhali, following a suggestion from Murugesan, their real estate broker. This tactic sets the stage for further complications as the visas are processed.

Gandhi's visa rejected; Pandi departs for London

Gandhi's visa application is rejected, forcing him to remain in Chennai. He takes a job as an accountant with a theatrical troupe. Pandi passes his visa interview and leaves for London with the help of a passport officer, Kumar.

Gandhi rises within the theatrical troupe

Gandhi's hard work and sincerity win him the employer's favor, and he is asked to act in the troupe's plays. His growing closeness to the troupe ties him to its London invitation. He becomes more involved in performances and the troupe's prospects.

The London invitation creates a need to remove the 'wife' from the passport

The troupe is invited to perform in London, creating a dilemma for Gandhi because his passport lists his wife's name. Removing the name would require a divorce, a step he would rather avoid. He learns that the only way to clear the passport is to divorce, setting off a chain of precarious schemes.

Gandhi locates Karmeghakuzhali, the journalist, for the plan

Gandhi tracks down Karmeghakuzhali, a television journalist, and persuades her to act as his wife for the divorce. He even feigns muteness to make the ruse more credible.

Karmeghakuzhali and Aarthi are recruited to stage the divorce

Karmeghakuzhali initially refuses but is moved by Gandhi's plea and agrees to help by supplying the necessary documents. Gandhi then persuades Aarthi, a troupe actress, to stand in as Karmeghakuzhali at the court.

Divorce hearing goes awry as muteness is exposed

On the day of the divorce hearing, Aarthi vanishes, leaving Karmeghakuzhali to stand in as the wife. The hearing proceeds with Karmeghakuzhali present, and Gandhi's muteness is revealed to be feigned, leading to public humiliation.

Divorce denied; Karmeghakuzhali departs in anger

No divorce is granted, and Karmeghakuzhali leaves the court bitterly. She recognizes Gandhi's deception and grows disillusioned with him.

Pandi's deportation and the middlemen arrested

Gandhi later learns that Pandi was deported upon arrival in London for giving false information and address verification while obtaining his passport. Pandi is held in the dock with the middlemen, who are arrested. He reveals that he was sent to Sri Lanka and tortured by prison officials after seeking asylum, and returns to his village humiliated.

Chennai passport office confrontation over the 'wife' name

Gandhi goes to the Regional Passport Office in Chennai and confesses his crime. He is offered a fine of ₹1,300 to remove Karmeghakuzhali's name. In a decisive move, he chooses not to pay the fine and instead proposes marriage to Karmeghakuzhali, who accepts.

Marriage grants clearance and a British visa

Having secured their marriage, Gandhi finally obtains a British visa. He leaves for London with the theatrical troupe.