| Director | G. Aravindan, Govindan Aravindan |
|---|
Esthappan, a fisherman, lives in a seashore colony of fishermen. The film presents him not as a conventional hero but as a mysterious figure remembered through the stories and opinions of the villagers. The first sequence of Esthappan is a long shot of him walking by the seashore, creating the illusion that he is walking over the waves and crossing the sea. Throughout the film, his life is recounted through anecdotes and local folklore. His supposed miraculous acts, such as printing his own money, drinking whisky without becoming intoxicated, calming rough seas, healing people, and appearing in different places at the same time, are narrated by members of the community. As a result, different people describe him in different ways: some see him as a prophet, saint, or miracle worker, while others view him as a thief, madman, or charlatan.
Esthappan remains an outsider who does not follow the ordinary routines of the fishing community. Instead of spending his life at sea like the other fishermen, he wanders along the shore, sings, helps children, and offers comfort to those in distress. His unusual behavior puzzles both the villagers and the local priest, who struggles to understand whether Esthappan's actions reflect holiness, eccentricity, or something else entirely. The conflicting stories about him reveal as much about the beliefs, fears, and hopes of the villagers as they do about Esthappan himself.
When Esthappan suddenly disappears from the colony, his absence creates anxiety and longing among the fishermen. The villagers are left wondering about his true nature and whether the stories surrounding him were fact or legend. As concern grows, the priest consoles them by saying that Esthappan will surely return. The film ends without resolving the mystery, leaving Esthappan transformed from a man into a legend whose memory lives on in the songs, stories, and expectations of the community.