Vetrivel 2016

In 1987, as India prepares for a major shift in local governance, PM Rajiv Gandhi unveils the plan to recreate local self-government bodies and to hold elections across villages. In this climate of change, Maniyakkarar Rajamanickam, [Prabhu], a wealthy landlord in a Tanjore village, is approached by his pregnant stepsister Kayavarnam, [Viji Chandrasekhar], who begs him not to contest the upcoming village chief election because her husband wants the post. He agrees, Kayavarnam is relieved, and peace briefly returns to their household.

Yet a chorus of village leaders convinces Rajamanickam to enter the race anyway, arguing that the chief’s seat will attract many who come with ill intentions if he sits it out. Rajamanickam agrees and asks his brother-in-law to withdraw, but the plan falters when the brother-in-law refuses, turning the contest into a heated battle. Rajamanickam wins by a wide margin, and the defeat drives his brother-in-law to suicide. Kayavarnam casts the death as a heart attack and swears revenge, severing the bond with Rajamanickam and souring the family ties.

Jump ahead to 2010, and the focus shifts to Vetrivel, [M. Sasikumar], an organic fertilizer vendor who lives in a nearby village with his father Navaneetham, [Ilavarasu], his mother Saradha, [Renuka], and his brother Saravanan, [Ananth Nag]. Saravanan has fallen for his classmate Subha, while Vetrivel develops feelings for agriculture researcher Janani, [Miya George]. When Vetrivel urges his father to propose a marriage between Saravanan and Subha, Rajamanickam opposes the match, citing caste differences. In an attempt to bridge the two families, Vetrivel and Saravanan hatch a plan to kidnap Subha during a temple festival; the plan spirals out of control and they end up abducting Latha, [Nikhila Vimal], instead.

Latha is betrothed to Kayavarnam’s son Arul, and her wedding is only days away. Realizing the mistake, Vetrivel hurries back to the village to drop Latha off, but her father commits suicide before her arrival, believing she has eloped. Latha learns that Kayavarnam’s harsh behavior toward her father helped drive him to despair, and she is left with a heavy sense of injustice. To protect Latha, Vetrivel marries her, and his parents come to accept the arrangement, even as Janani remains disappointed yet understanding of the difficult circumstances. Meanwhile, Rajamanickam plans Subha’s marriage to his own relative, hoping to resolve the longstanding feud; Vetrivel steps in and blocks these talks, and Rajamanickam decides instead to aim for Subha’s union with Arul, thinking this will end the dispute.

On the way to the wedding, Rajamanickam escorts Subha to Kayavarnam’s home, fearing another interference from Vetrivel. He soon discovers Kayavarnam’s scheme to ditch Subha after the wedding as revenge against him. Realizing his misjudgment, Rajamanickam meets with Vetrivel and supports Subha’s marriage to Saravanan. As they return, Rajamanickam is kidnapped by Kayavarnam. Arul informs Subha that he will not force the marriage and urges her to tell Saravanan where she is so he can rescue her. Subha relays the plan, and Saravanan rushes to the scene, only to confront Arul’s henchmen. It is revealed that Kayavarnam and Arul conspired to kill Saravanan, but Vetrivel intervenes, defeats the attackers, and saves both Saravanan and Rajamanickam. In the end, Subha marries Saravanan, and the long-standing conflict between Rajamanickam and Kayavarnam reaches a resolve through the new alliance.