Murugesan (Livingston) is a rich landlord in a village but is illiterate as well as innocent. He is in love with his cousin Maheshwari (Devayani) right from childhood. Maheshwari also likes Murugesan but she wants him to overcome his innocence and be brave. Santhamoorthy (Ponnambalam) is Murugesan’s half brother and enmity prevails between him and Murugesan. Chinthamani (Vindhya) is a dancer who comes to Murugesan’s village to perform. Chinthamani’s mother forces her into prostitution but Murugesan saves her and accommodates in his farm house.
Murugesan and Maheshwari’s wedding is fixed and the day before wedding, Santhamoorthy tries to kill Murugesan but Murugesan fights back the goons. Murugesan who is drunk now rushes to his farmhouse to get some weapons to kill Santhamoorthy. Chinthamani who lives in the farm house tries to stop Murugesan from committing the murder and accidentally they enter into a physical relationship. Murugesan feels guilty of the incident and wants to cancel his wedding with Maheshwari. But Maheshwari’s father (R. Sundarajan) convinces Murugesan to not cancel the wedding.

The film is set in a village near Madurai. Pugazhendi (RK) spends all his time drinking and is ridiculed by everyone. In contrast, his elder brother Pandithurai (Napoleon) is respected and admired by everyone. Pandithurai showers love and affection on Pugazh. He even tries to arrange for his wedding hoping =he would reform. But knowing about Pugazh and his habits, nobody comes forward to give their daughter to him. Pugazh, who spends all his time with his maternal uncle Kaththamuthu (Vadivelu), comes across Janani (Muktha). It’s love at first sight for him. Meanwhile, the family of Rathnavelu (Lal), another powerful man in the village, is hellbent on revenging Pandithurai and his family due to previous enmity. They hatch a conspiracy and try to halt Pughazh and Janani’s wedding. Cut to flashback and the reason for ill-feeling between two families is revealed. It is now up to Pugazh to bump off Rathnavelu and restore peace in his family.