Plot
In 2014, D. Ragavan, a diligent 12th-standard student, wins a gold medal in computer science. Encouraged by his achievement, he confesses his feelings to his crush, Anjana, but she rejects him, preferring rebellious boys over well-mannered ones like him. Heartbroken, Ragavan transforms into a rebellious student, adopting the moniker "Dragon". With his friend Anbu, he builds a notorious reputation at AGS Engineering College in Vellore, accumulating 48 arrears. Despite his poor academics, he earns the respect of his peers.
During a college fest, Dragon gets into a fight and is suspended. Dean Mayilvahanan offers him a chance to redeem himself, but Dragon declines. After leaving college, he deceives his parents into believing he has an IT job, funding a small allowance through his friends and girlfriend, Keerthi. However, Keerthi ends their six-year relationship upon receiving a good marriage proposal, calling Dragon a failure due to his arrears and lack of independence. Devastated, Dragon reassesses his life after a drunken accident and sets a goal to earn a salary of ₹120,001 (US$1,400), surpassing Keerthi's prospective groom's income of ₹120,000 (US$1,400).
Anbu and Dragon befriend Gowtham, a wealthy man who reveals he secured a job using a fake degree. Inspired, Dragon seeks one from the same agency, whose managing director M. S. Rajesh demands ₹1,000,000 (US$12,000). Dragon manipulates his father, Dhanapal, into selling their land to raise funds. With the money, he obtains the degree and cheats in a video interview with Vale Kumar, the CEO of a multinational corporation. Dragon lands the job with an annual salary of ₹1,600,000 (US$19,000).
Dragon performs well at work due to his computer science background and earns multiple promotions within three years, securing a transfer to the United States. He buys a lavish villa and car, impressing businessman Parasuram, who arranges his daughter Pallavi's marriage with him. Dragon and Pallavi fall in love. However, Mayilvahanan spots Dragon in his car and confronts him. Forced to confess his forgery, Dragon begs Mayilvahanan to stay silent. He agrees, provided Dragon clears all arrears in a single attempt within three months. Fearing job loss and wedding cancellation, Dragon accepts. He secures a three-month work-from-home arrangement, lying to Vale about marriage commitments, and to his family about a training program in Mumbai.
Returning to college, Dragon struggles to adapt. Meanwhile, Kutty Dragon (transl. Little Dragon), a junior inspired by his notorious reputation, causes chaos. Dragon considers quitting but changes his mind after learning of Gowtham's arrest for his fake degree. Determined, he prepares for exams with help from Keerthi, now a lecturer. They reconcile as friends, with Keerthi expressing guilt over their past.
Before his final exam, Pallavi arrives in Mumbai to surprise him. To maintain his lie, Dragon says he came to Chennai to surprise her. She returns to Chennai, and Dragon rushes from Vellore to Chennai to meet her, then back to college. Exhausted, he accidentally sleeps during the exam and resorts to Rajesh's help to swap his answer sheet, ensuring he passes. Later, during a verification process at work, he learns he has officially cleared his arrears, securing his job.
On his wedding eve, Dragon and Kutty Dragon visit their classmate Venkat, who attempted suicide after failing a subject. Venkat, from a poor family, lost his Google job offer due to his failure. Dragon realises his answer sheet was swapped with Venkat's, leading to his undeserved pass. Overcome with guilt, he halts his wedding and confesses to Vale, Mayilvahanan, and his family. He surrenders to the police and serves six months in prison while Venkat secures his job at Google.
Upon release, Dragon is accepted by his parents and starts working as a food delivery agent with a modest salary of ₹25,000 (US$290), while resuming his education in another college. Impressed by his transformation, Mayilvahanan offers his daughter Harini's hand in marriage. Initially hesitant, Dragon is smitten by Harini upon seeing her.
Production
After the success of Oh My Kadavule in 2020, director Ashwath Marimuthu was congratulated by Silambarasan for the film's success, leading speculations that they would collaborate for the director's next directorial venture. [8] Reports of a potential collaboration persisted through January 2022, [9] [10] with AGS Entertainment reported as the project's funder. [11] Touted to be a romantic comedy, production was reportedly set to begin later that year. [12] However, for unspecified reasons, the project was eventually delayed. [13] Silambarasan moved on to Thug Life (2025), STR 49 directed by Ramkumar Balakrishnan and STR 50 directed by Desingh Periyasamy, while Ashwath took on the Telugu remake of Oh My Kadavule, later titled Ori Devuda (2022). [14]
In December 2023, Pradeep Ranganathan, a long-time friend of Ashwath Marimuthu, was reported to collaborate with him for a potential film. [15] AGS Entertainment was confirmed to be the project's funder, and made a public announcement on 10 April 2024, confirming the project, tentatively titled #PradeepAshwathCombo and #AGS26. [16] The team retained collaborators from their previous films, including composer Leon James, editor Pradeep E. Ragav, and publicity designer Kabilan Chelliah; S. M. Venkat Manickam was appointed as the executive producer by the production house, while Niketh Bommireddy was chosen to handle the cinematography. [17] Ashwath clarified the script he narrated to Silambarasan was not the same, after reports claimed it to be. [18] The film's official title, Dragon, was announced on 5 May. [19]
Pradeep would be playing a student as a main character for the first time. [20] [21] Anupama Parameswaran would be pairing opposite Pradeep, [22] in her fourth Tamil film after Kodi (2016), Thalli Pogathey (2021) and Siren (2024). [23] [24] K. S. Ravikumar, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Mysskin were confirmed to be playing important roles, in their first collaboration with Pradeep and Ashwath. [25] [26] YouTubers VJ Siddhu and Harshath Khan would make their film acting sophomore after Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Odu Raja (2019), [27] while Kayadu Lohar would make her Tamil film debut with this film. [28] Shortly thereafter, George Maryan and television actress Indumathy Manikandan were announced to play the title character's parents. [29] Principal photography began with first schedule on 5 May 2024 with an inaugural puja at a film city in Chennai on the day before. [30] On 4 October, the director confirmed that filming had entered into its last schedule. [31]
