Aayiram Porkaasugal 2023

Animuthu is a lazy and unemployed 52-year-old man living in the small village of Kuruvadipatti near Thanjavur. His daily routine mostly involves cooking, sleeping, and eating, with little interest in anything else. Living outside his house is a beggar named Arivazhagan, whom Animuthu also feeds regularly, showing a small act of kindness amid his lethargic lifestyle. His sister, Senthamarai, and his young nephew, Thamil, frequently visit his home. When his sister makes the decision to keep Thamil with him, the boy secretly drinks Animuthu’s alcohol, which leads Animuthu to make a phone call to his sister about the incident. Thamil, feeling threatened, warns Animuthu that if his mother ever returns, there might be serious consequences.

The story introduces Poongothai, a girl who owns a shop in the town. She catches Thamil’s eye after he visits her shop to buy cigarettes, and an innocent romantic connection begins to bloom between them. However, troubles arise when Poongothai’s friend Aarayi falsely spreads gossip claiming that Thamil and Poongothai were seen hugging and kissing in an intimate manner. This rumor incites Poongothai’s mother to confront Animuthu and their neighbor, Govindan, demanding they stay away from their shop and not interfere in her daughter’s affairs.

In the midst of this, the government announces a clean-up initiative to improve sanitation in the village by encouraging residents to build toilets. Each villager has to submit a photo of their newly constructed restroom at the panchayat office to receive a relief fund of Rs. 12,000. Govindan successfully builds an outdoor toilet close to his house. Animuthu, however, chooses to deceive the system by taking a photo of a fake toilet next to Govindan’s, and as a result, he receives the relief money—an amount he quickly spends on rice, fish, eggs, soup, and various meats. When Govindan finds out about Animuthu’s dishonest act, he threatens to report him to the authorities, prompting Animuthu and Thamil to hastily agree to build a proper toilet in Animuthu’s backyard within five days, with Govindan providing the necessary tools.

The duo begins constructing the toilet, but their efforts are hampered when Govindan constantly complains to the village head about their noise. During the work, Thamil injures his foot while digging, and it is Poongothai who steps in to treat his wound. Meanwhile, Animuthu recruits two men, Andavan and Harichandran, to dig a well in his backyard. During this job, Harichandran unexpectedly unearths a treasure trove of ancient gold coins dating back to the Chola dynasty. When they notice Harichandran hiding the coins in his lungi, a fight breaks out between him, Thamil, and Animuthu. Though they initially agree to split the treasure, they plan to take the coins at night.

Thamil and Poongothai secretly plot to escape the village with the coins, but a mysterious figure with a cloak, smoking a pipe and holding a walking stick, appears to block their path wherever they run. Poongothai quickly returns home, prepares to leave, and sleeps, while Thamil attempts to find out the truth behind the strange figure. It is revealed that Animuthu himself was the person blocking their way, a surprising twist that adds to the story’s humor and tension.

One day, Thamil visits Poongothai’s shop, but her mother insists she go home. Poongothai quickly locks Thamil inside the shop to prevent him from leaving. Meanwhile, Harichandran, who had planned to split the treasure with Animuthu, is told to wait for Thamil. Animuthu repeatedly tries to contact Thamil, but the boy delays his return. When Thamil finally arrives, he finds Harichandran lying injured and bloodied, which leads him to dispose of Harichandran’s body on the railway tracks. He then reports back to Animuthu, who falsely claims that Harichandran stabbed him and that he was only unconscious.

It later becomes clear that Harichandran is still alive but suffering from amnesia. When Govindan overhears Animuthu claiming to have murdered someone, he believes a crime might have taken place. Thamil and Animuthu visit Harichandran, discovering that he has forgotten everything. With some comedic misadventures, the villagers uncover the treasure of old coins, and Harichandran eventually regains his memory. The villagers agree to share the treasure, but just then, representatives from the Archaeology department arrive claiming the coins belong to the government. They seize the treasure, leading to the villagers’ frantic chase after the fake officers, who try to escape with the precious artifact.

In a comical turn, it’s revealed that the officers were impostors, and the villagers pursue them. Meanwhile, Thamil and Animuthu ride away on a motorcycle, but as they hit a pothole, the gold coins fall out of the back. A flashback reveals that Thamil had switched the real coins with a pot filled with stones, which explains Animuthu’s happiness when he finds the treasure missing. As the story concludes, Thamil, Animuthu, and Poongothai prepare for a fresh start and head to Chennai, leaving their small village behind with a mixture of misadventures, humor, and unexpected twists.