Soundaryam, coming to know about the misdeeds of her brother and his plans to destroy Kaalaiyan, argues with her brother and goes to the forest in search of Kaalaiyan. The police arrive at Kaalaiyan's marriage venue to arrest him. Sundaravelu kills Sangili and frames Kaalaiyan.
Kaalaiyan subdues Sangili but spares him. To stop the wedding, Sundaravelu, at the instigation of Saamipillai, sends his henchman Sangili, who previously killed Kannamma's father, to fight Kaalaiyan. When the villagers talk ill of Kannamma, Kaalaiyan's brothers decide to get Kannamma and Kaalaiyan married. She takes care of all the domestic work and impresses Kaalaiyan's brothers. Kaalaiyan allows her to stay at his house.
When she refuses, he tries to molest her and she comes to Kaalaiyan seeking protection. Sundaravelu falls in love with Kannamma, a girl of his village and proposes to her. Kaalaiyan wins, but refuses to marry Soundaryam as he is aware of Sundaravelu's devious plan, thus disappointing Soundaryam, who loved him, and also insulting Sundaravelu. Saamipillai, knowing well that Kaalaiyan is the best jallikattu player around, advises to Sundaravelu to organise a jallikattu game in the village festival and announce the reward as his sister Soundaryam's hand in marriage. Saamipillai's family was burnt to death by Sundaravelu's father Saamipillai had joined Sundaravelu's service as a mole, planning to destroy Sundaravelu at the appropriate time. He lusts for Kaalaiyan's property and sends his assistant Saamipillai to him with an offer to buy his property. Sundaravelu is an equally rich but less honourable landlord in the neighbouring village. Kaalaiyan, a well-to-do and honourable landlord, lives modestly with his four brothers in a village.