Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi 2006

In the South Indian kingdom of Cholapuram Paalayam, in the year 1771, Raja Mokkaiyappar and his queen, Rani Bhavani Ammaiyar, endure a sorrow that haunts them—their twenty-two previous children have died at birth, leaving them desperate for a child to carry on the royal line. Unbeknownst to the royal couple, Bhavani’s brother, Sangilimayan, the Rajaguru, hides a cruel secret behind these tragedies. He is stunned when Bhavani miraculously bears twins, and he swiftly urges the palace astrologer, Chinnavadayaan, to reveal the danger such births pose to the kingdom. Chinnavadayaan foresees that the elder twin will struggle to make decisions on his own, while the younger twin will be sharper and more capable. In a bid to safeguard power and wealth, Sangilimayan directs the palace doctor, Kailasakaruppan, to kill the younger child, but Chinnavadayaan warns that such an act would doom the realm. Reluctantly, the doctor abandons the child in a nearby river.

The elder child is named Pulikesi XXIII, and the childless Maragathavalli, Kailasakaruppan’s wife, rescues the infant from the waters and raises him as her own, naming him Ukraputhan. The siblings grow apart by fate, but destiny will later bind them in a struggle for their homeland.

Twenty-five years pass, and Pulikesi has ascended as king of Cholapuram Paalayam. Alas, he embodies the very traits his people fear—foolishness, lust, and a willingness to bend to Sangilimayan’s schemes. The king becomes a puppet who answers to Sangilimayan, who has aligned himself with the British for personal gain. Pulikesi’s brutal governance includes a cruel outdoor arena where different castes are forced to battle each other, and he harshly punishes even minor mistakes by his guards, treating them as marks for shooting practice. In stark contrast, Ukraputhan—the educated, reform-minded twin—emerges as a revolutionary figure who rallies friends to challenge British influence and seek a more just future. He also finds love in Soolaayini, a bond that strengthens his resolve.

As Ukraputhan learns more about his own birth and identity, he discovers that Pulikesi and he are identical twins. To save the land from Sangilimayan’s greed and the encroaching colonial power, Ukraputhan makes a daring move: he switches places with an unconscious Pulikesi, sending the king to prison and stepping into the throne himself. Now king, Ukraputhan reveals his true identity to Agandamuthu, the commander-in-chief, and proceeds to enact sweeping reforms. He transforms the palace’s old, oppressive structures into opportunities for creativity and growth—turning the palace harem into a playground, funding education for children, and working to clear arable land for farming. His policies signal a break from the past, as he refuses to pay the tributes and taxes demanded by the British, and Bhavani Ammaiyar praises these reforms, unaware that the reformer is actually Ukraputhan.

Meanwhile, in prison, Pulikesi is cared for by Soolaayini, who provides refreshments to the soldiers; the two gradually fall in love, a poignant counterpoint to the political shifts taking place. Sangilimayan, meanwhile, is away on business in Chennai, gathering support from British officers, and when he returns, he confronts Ukraputhan and his new vision for the realm.

Pulikesi eventually escapes from prison and overhears a crucial conversation between Ukraputhan, Agandamuthu, and Chinnavadayaan. He learns the truth about their intertwined fates and joins forces with Ukraputhan to reform the kingdom, only to be beaten by one of Sangilimayan’s men and locked up again in the palace. After a daring escape, Pulikesi reappears before Sangilimayan—but this time, he is seen as Ukraputhan by the wary minister Mangunipandiyan, who recognizes him by a familiar catchphrase. A fierce confrontation ensues, and Sangilimayan is overpowered. He experiences a change of heart, apologizes to Bhavani Ammaiyar, and is forgiven, allowing the kingdom to stride toward independence from British rule.

In the end, the two brothers marry their respective lovers—Ukraputhan to Soolaayini, and Pulikesi to Vasantha Sundari—marking a new era for Cholapuram Paalayam. To seal the transformation, Pulikesi introduces ten ordinances designed to improve the welfare of the people, signaling a hopeful future where the twin brothers balance power, justice, and compassion for their realm.