The film deals with the social stigma associated with a handicapped girl in a rural milieu. Murali is a potter by profession. He has a sister, who is born dumb. Murali has to struggle a lot as the handicraft industry is a dying industry and a good amount of money is taken away by his father (Manivannan), who is a drunkard and a gambler. But, he tries to hide his sorrows by having fun with his sister and servant (Vadivelu), who is also his trusted friend. He is in love with his neighbour (Meena), a weaver. He wants to get his sister married to a noble man. But many reject her as she is dumb. Finally, one man agrees to marry his sister but on condition that Muralimust offer dowry. Murali then sells many things dearer to him to get money for the dowry. But, that money is taken away by his father and the marriage falls through. Yet Vadivelu offers to marry his sister without asking dowry and Murali goes home along with Vadiveluto convey this happy news to his sister. But it was too late as the sister commits suicide. Murali as a penance decides to marry a handicapped girl.

The film opens with the birth of Baba (Rajinikanth), who is a ‘baba amsa sambhootudu’. Baba grows up as an atheist and hot-blooded man, but he is a Good Samaritan. His lifestyle includes consuming alcohol, smoking substances, and chewing tobacco. His mother (Sujatha) and maternal uncle (M. N. Nambiar) are ardent devotees of Mahavatar Babaji (the Mahaavtar Baba who is supposed to be 2000 years old and who lives in the Himalayas). Chamundeswari (Manisha Koirala) stays in the neighborhood of Baba’s residence who often quarrels with Baba but eventually falls in love with his style and falls for his attitude.

Arvind and Nandini meet in a singing competition and instantly fall in love with each other. Their lives take a turn when his friend Nirmala develops feelings for him.

Amravathi is a naive girl who runs away from home. She finds shelter in a kind-hearted man’s house where she is well taken care of. Her life takes a turn when Arjun falls in love with her.

Sathyaraj in a dual role. One role is of an IPS officer (Iyer) and the other is of a dada (Venkatachalapathy). The dada throughout the film has a dark skin and sports a bald head.
Iyer believes that dadas and rowdies must be eliminated through encounters. But his father thinks one does not have the right to take any life. Dada Venkatachalapthy plants bombs at various places in the city and puts the blame on Muslims. Iyer takes Venkatachalapathy into custody. His sons Pasupathi and Gajapathi try to kill Iyer. Now Iyer’s father turns against him and joins the villain. This sets off a chain of events leading to murders.