Tharai Thappattai

The story opens with an Indian guide woman leading a Discovery channel TV team asking an elderly villager named Saamipulavan to perform his mridangam art for their documentary. While he performs but refuses to change for the commercial angle, his son, Sannasi, and his troupe perform. Sannasi is the head of a dance troupe, while Sooravali is the chief dancer who loves him. Times are tough, and the ensemble jumps at a chance to perform in the Andaman Islands for a hefty sum. But they soon discover that the sponsors are more interested in the women than their dance. The hotel's security throws them out, and the event manager rips their tickets back home when Sooravalli physically assaults them for their improper advances. The troupe saves money by doing manual labour at a construction site. Sooravalli decides to dance to collect money to reach home by ship. Sooravali's performance ends in unconsciousness from fatigue and blood loss. Humiliated, they return home, only to continue their struggle without work. At this time, Sooravali receives a marriage proposal from Karuppaiah, who seems decent and claims to have a government job and a decent salary. Sannasi is angry at first and beats up Karuppaiah, but after Sooravali's mother pleads with him, he eventually forces Sooravali to accept the proposal. After Sooravali's marriage and departure, the troupe attempts to continue working, but people reject them as Sooravali is the main attraction. Sannasi finds a replacement but is forced to compromise with his principles and perform at a funeral. Sannasi's father, Saamipulavan, who has always disapproved of what he considers his son's adulteration and lowering of the art form, lambasts him for this. Sannasi retaliates and insults Saamipulavan's knowledge and talent, leaving him hurt. One day, Samipulavan gets called to perform a concert in front of high-ranking foreign officials, including the Governor of Australia. His singing performance is appreciated, and the governor lauds him, finally validating him after years of rejection and obscurity. He returns home and tells Sannasi that he has won, but suddenly he coughs and passes away. After the funeral, Sooravali's mother visits Sannasi. He expresses his disappointment that Sooravali has never checked in after her marriage, not even upon his father's death. Sooravali's mother breaks down and tells Sannasi she hasn't heard from Sooravali since the wedding. Sannasi is shocked to learn that Karuppaiah lied about his job and has disappeared with Sooravali. Sannasi tracks Sooravali down and finds her in an unfamiliar house. She reveals what happened. It turns out that Karuppaiah is a pimp who smokes and drinks. He also tonsures the women who run brothels. He married Sooravali to fulfil the request of a man who wanted her in return for a favour. Karuppiah eventually forces Sooravali to be the surrogate for a wealthy man whose astrologer has divined that he requires a female heir born on a specific day and time with the man's sperm. Karuppaiah discovers Sannasi and beats him unconscious. Karuppaiah then takes Sooravali away for delivery to the hospital. The hospital doctor refuses to perform a C-section because of complications that would endanger Sooravali or her child. Karuppaiah pays a mortuary technician to perform the c-section secretly. Because the birth has to occur at a specific time, Karuppaiah instructs the technician to begin when he whistles. As he and his men wait outside, Sannasi appears and attacks them. He dispatches Karuppaiah's men and then goes after Karuppaiah, demanding to know Sooravali's whereabouts. However, Karuppaiah refuses to divulge it. Sannasi kills Karuppaiah by stabbing him in the throat with a wooden spike. Sannasi then enters the mortuary and kills the technician. He finds Sooravali and tries to wake her, but discovers that she has died after the technician performed the C-section on his own. Sannasi is grief-stricken, but upon hearing cries, he discovers that Sooravali's baby has survived. He takes the baby and returns home. ==Cast==