| Director | Mani Ratnam |
|---|---|
| Genre | action film, drama film |
| Runtime | 160 min |
| Country | India |
| Budget | ₹12 crore |
| Box office | ₹24.5 crore |
The film opens in media res on Kolkata's Vidyasagar Setu, where mercenary enforcer Lallan Singh shoots student activist Michael "Mike" Mukherjee, sending him and his motorcycle into the Hooghly River. The assassination is witnessed by bystander Arjun Balachandran. The narrative then adopts a non-linear, three-part structure detailing the men's backgrounds and the events leading to their confrontation.
Lallan, a volatile migrant from Bihar, settles in Kolkata's slums after being abandoned by his elder brother, Gopal Singh. Driven by poverty, he enters violent crime and marries Shashi Biswas, an idealistic local woman. His erratic behaviour and domestic abuse destroy their relationship. Through Gopal, Lallan becomes a contract killer and political enforcer for Prosenjit Bhattacharya, a powerful and corrupt politician.
Michael is a brilliant, fiercely independent student leader who organises youth coalitions against political interference in university elections, threatening Prosenjit's influence. He is also romantically involved with his neighbour, Radhika. Prosenjit attempts to neutralise Michael by offering him a fully funded scholarship abroad, but Michael rejects the bribe. Prosenjit consequently orders Gopal and Lallan to crush the student movement. After Lallan brutally assaults Michael's associate Trilok, Michael and the students retaliate.
Arjun, the carefree and politically indifferent son of a senior IAS officer, dreams only of obtaining a visa and emigrating to the United States. He falls in love with Meera, a free-spirited woman. After she questions his sincerity during a playful dispute, Arjun pursues her taxi by hitching a ride on Michael's motorcycle. On the Vidyasagar Setu, Lallan intercepts them and shoots Michael. At Meera's urging, Arjun overcomes his panic, rescues the critically injured Michael from the river and takes him to hospital, where he survives.
Arjun later tracks down Lallan for answers but is badly beaten and suffers a broken arm. During his recovery, he abandons his plans to emigrate and joins Michael's grassroots campaign with student leaders Vishnu and Trilok. Meanwhile, Prosenjit orders Gopal to kill Lallan for failing to silence Arjun, but Lallan discovers the betrayal and executes Gopal. Prosenjit then offers Lallan protection in exchange for kidnapping Arjun, Vishnu and Trilok before they can file their election nominations.
Shashi, hoping Lallan will reform, asks him to meet her at a railway station so they can abandon their criminal life. When he fails to appear, she leaves him permanently. Lallan's associate Dablu also develops a conscience and attempts to free the captive students, but Lallan catches and kills him. Arjun escapes and contacts Michael, only for Lallan to corner him on the Vidyasagar Setu.
Michael arrives, leading to a final confrontation. Michael and Arjun overpower Lallan, but Michael spares him, leaving him bound for the police. Lallan is imprisoned, while Michael, Arjun, Vishnu and Trilok win the independent student coalition seats and enter the legislative assembly as reformist lawmakers.