Plot
In the village of Pallikondapattu, Tiruvannamalai, Kalyanam portrays as a female artist in the Ramachandran Nadaga Sabha (transl. Ramachandran Drama Association), a Therukoothu troupe, a form of streetplay currently led by Thandavam, a drunkard. The troupe was originally founded by Kalyanam's father, Elavarasan. The troupe consists of 16 members, but Kalyanam is the only member who doesn't play male characters.
Kalyanam's mother worries about his marriage prospects due to his feminine behavior as he socializes with village women, chatting and gossiping, and his consistent portrayal of female lead characters, particularly Draupadi which earns him ridicule from the village youths. However, Kalyanam is uninterested in marriage, and his true ambition is to own a drama troupe, preferably the one that once belonged to his father. Kalyanam's mother pressures him to tell Thandavam that he will no longer portray female characters, or else he will leave the troupe. Thandavam who was already angry with Chandran leaving the troupe and when Kalyanam, oblivious to the situation, requests a male lead role, mocks Kalyanam, saying he is unfit for male roles, causing Kalyanam to break down in tears. But Thandavam convinces Kalyanam to continue with female roles, ensuring he stays in the troupe. Ganesan aka Poonai, the senior member of the troupe, encourages Kalyanam to seek support from fellow members. However, they demand money or favors in exchange for their support but refuse to confront Thandavam.
Thandavam's daughter, Jegathambiga "Jega", loves Kalyanam, but he doesn't reciprocate due to her being his teacher's daughter. Kalyanam recalls his past, where he dropped out of school and took up farm work to support Jega's education, promising never to leave her. His father, indebted to Thandavam, accepts Kalyanam's decision. Jega too uses her scholarship to rescue Kalyanam from bonded farm work. To support, Jega's higher education, Kalyanam joins Thandavam's troupe where his salary can be used to fund Jega's education. Kalyanam feels inferior and hesitant to marry Jega, fearing public ridicule. However, Jega motivates him to be the "man" she loves. Kalyanam and his mother visit Thandavam's house to propose Jega's marriage to Kalyanam but, Thandavam humiliates and beats Kalyanam. Enraged, Jega leaves the house, but Kalyanam brings her back, shocking everyone by declaring he doesn't love her and only wants to rejoin the troupe. Jega returns to her studies, vowing never to come back.
Kalyanam sells his land, gives the money to troupe members as advance, and books a program. However, no one shows up on the day of the program, as they refuse to work under Kalyanam due to his status and behavior. Kalyanam lies to his mother, saying he's selling the land for a government job. When she discovers the truth, she dies, grief-stricken. Eleven years have passed since Kalyanam's father's death, and the Mottaparai village festival hasn't begun properly due to the spiritual possessed not granting permission. Thandavam consistently prevents Kalyanam from participating in the ritual, while Poonai urges Kalyanam to take the spiritual pot despite the villagers' resistance. Poonai reveals a flashback where Elavarasan, Kalyanam's father, learns street play and becomes a great performer. He brings street play to his village, with the whole village's involvement. Poonai, Elavarasan, and Thandavam start their own troupe, Ambalavanan Nadaga Sabha, sharing investments. Thandavam bonds his elder daughter to farm work for his share of the money, prompting Kalyanam to encourage Jega to pursue her studies. Thandavam becomes infuriated when his daughter doesn't give him the scholarship and when Kalyanam joins the troupe, fears that he'll be sidelined, then plots to split the troupe.
Thandavam with his relative and a few villagers' support, gain permission to perform Elavarasan's Arjunan character in the Mottapaarai ritual, thereby, successfully driving Elavarasan out of the village. Elavarasan becomes addicted to alcohol and abandons street play, but Kalyanam is determined to reclaim his father's troupe. Elavarasan advises Kalyanam to control his anger, unlike him, while overcome with depression, he dances to death in the Mottapparai hills. Thandavam becomes the lead of the troupe and begins performing. At the festival's commencement, Kalyanam joins the villagers, angering Thandavam. However, the divine force possesses Kalyanam, granting permission for him to perform. The villagers support Kalyanam in portraying Arjunan's character, following in his father's footsteps. Kalyanam tries to reconcile with Jega, explaining that he stays in Thandavam's troupe only to perform, gather people, and eventually form a new troupe. Thandavam again humiliates Kalyanam, but he retaliates by accusing Thandavam of betraying his father, which infuriates Thandavam who changes Kalyanam's character from Draupadi to a new role of Kunthi and takes the role of a relatively easy Karnan for himself.
The play begins, depicting Karnan's defeat in the Kurukshetra War and Kunthi, played by Kalyanam, who has to lament over her son's death. Kalyanam's performance as Kunthi turns out to be extraordinary, leaving the audience in awe. Even Thandavam is impressed, and overcome with regret for betraying Kalyanam's father and belittling him, he falls at Kalyanam's feet and dies. Two months later, Kalyanam dresses as Arjunan, fulfilling his mother's last wish and a challenge from a troupe member. He begins to perform solo, astonishing the entire troupe with his ferocious portrayal of Arjunan. The same members who rejected him earlier are now impressed by his talent.
