| Director | Pa. Ranjith |
|---|---|
| Genre | boxing film |
| Country | India |
In the early 1970s in North Madras (now called North Chennai), Kabilan is a Dalit labourer at the Madras Port. He aspires to become a prominent boxer like his father Munirathnam. His mother Bakkiyam forbids this, as Munirathnam's fighting prowess led him to be killed in an ambush by a rival gang, but Kabilan's Anglo-Indian godfather Kevin (nicknamed 'Daddy') secretly supports his boxing passion.
In 1975, when Indira Gandhi suspends political freedoms under The Emergency, a boxing tournament is hosted by Rangan, boxing coach of the Sarpatta clan and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party-member. The Sarpatta clan's main boxer Meeran is defeated by Vembuli of the Idiyappan clan. Rangan declares that he will bring up a prominent boxer to defeat Vembuli at the next match, accepting the condition that the Sarpatta will never fight again if defeated. To the disapproval of his son Vetri, Rangan controversially chooses to train amateur boxer Raman, but is soon dissatisfied by Raman's progress. Hearing Raman insult the coach, Kabilan severely beats him.
Impressed by Kabilan's ability, Rangan decides to train him in Raman's place, though the Idiyappan clan scoffs at the idea of Kabilan as a challenge to Vembuli. After a heated debate, Daddy challenges 'Dancing Rose' – a respected retired boxer nicknamed for his legendary footwork – to fight Kabilan. The upcoming fight is frequently discussed and fans dismiss Kabilan as a "tomato can". There is an uproar when Kabilan defeats Rose, and an enraged Vembuli taunts Kabilan in advance of their match. Raman's uncle Thaniga plots against Kabilan for humiliating Raman, offering to help Vembuli if the match turns against him.
Kabilan dominates Vembuli most of the match and almost knocks him out in the fourth round. The final round is suddenly stopped by the police who come to arrest Rangan, as the DMK government has been dismissed and arrest orders issued for all prominent DMK leaders. The crowd refuses to move until the match ends, forcing the police to wait. As Kabilan is about to give the final blow to the tired and hopeless Vembuli, Thaniga's henchmen interrupt the match by attacking Kabilan and the spectators, stripping Kabilan naked, and forcing the match to end with no winner. Rangan and other party members are immediately imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
Kabilan recovers from an injury to the back of the head and decides to quit boxing and live a modest life with Bakkiyam and his wife Mariyamma. Kabilan and Vetri decide to visit Rangan in prison, but they happen to encounter Thaniga who provokes Kabilan. In a fit of rage, Kabilan attacks Thaniga with a sword and is imprisoned for six months.
In 1978, Kabilan is working with Vetri to brew liquor. Their undertaking is initially illegal but Vetri uses his connections as a member of Tamil Nadu's ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party to legitimize the business and grow rich while employing Kabilan as a henchman. Kabilan becomes an alcoholic, straining his relationships with his mother and his wife. Released from prison in 1979, Rangan is disturbed by how Kabilan has changed.
Kabilan watches as Raman is thoroughly defeated by Vembuli in a boxing match. Afterwards, Kabilan, supported by Daddy, challenges Vembuli to a rematch due to the disruption of their earlier match. Embarrassed, Vembuli accepts. Rangan wants to substitute another boxer because of Kabilan's lack of fitness, and Vetri tries to dissuade Kabilan by offering him a better position in his business, but Kabilan angrily insists on fighting.
Kabilan laments his personal and boxing failures to Bakkiyam. She reassures him and encourages him to redeem himself through boxing, explaining that she had discouraged him earlier because she didn't want him to become a thug. The next day, Daddy sends Kabilan to train under Munirathnam's friend and former Sarpatta boxer, 'Beedi' Rayappan. Kabilan regains his fitness and improves his technique. In the match, Vembuli dominates the early rounds and dislocates Kabilan's left shoulder, but with encouragement from Rangan, Vetri, Meeran, and other Sarpatta members, Kabilan knocks out Vembuli in the final round. After years of failures, the Sarpatta clan achieves its prime-match victory.