Velu moves in with his uncle Chokalingam after his mother dies, but is constantly berated by his aunt and her three con artist brothers. Naive and slightly hapless, Velu often takes the blame for the misdeeds of the three brothers. In this manner, he is pitted against Panjavarnam, daughter of Sathyamorthy, a village leader and Gandhian. Rajalingam, the richest man in town, uses his guise as a charitable village elder to rape young women and brew moonshine. 

When Sathyamoorthy offers Velu a job, he and Panjavarnam become friends. Rajalingam sets his sights on Panjavarnam, but his plots to kidnap her are foiled by a clueless Velu. Upset, Rajalingam convinces her father to agree to her marriage with another man. Due to fortunate circumstances, the true nature of the man is revealed, allowing Velu and Panjavarnam to marry. On their wedding night, Rajalingam's men attempt to kidnap Panjavarnam. They do not succeed, but Velu is chased away and beaten to near-death after he witnesses Rajalingam murdering a man. The rest of the village believes him to be dead. Velu is rescued by a military man and taught to fight. He returns to the village to reunite with Panjavarnam and challenge Rajalingam.