The story runs on two tracks. One is that of Chandra Bose alias Chandru (Kamal Haasan), a small-time broker outside the RTO (Road Transport office) who gets people licences etc. for hefty sums. He is supported in this work by Goundamani. Senthil plays an officer in the RTO who has conflicts with Goundamani. Aishwarya (Manisha Koirala) and Chandru are in love with each other. Sapna (Urmila Matondkar) is the daughter of a high level officer in the RTO. Her Dad promises to get Chandru a good job if he runs errands for them. He agrees to work for them.

The other track is of Senapathy, alias Indian (Kamal Haasan), a 70-year-old man who kills top government officials (like Commissioners of Corporation etc.) in an extreme attempt to root out corruption. Nedumudi Venu is an intelligence officer out to nab the Indian. He manages to somehow trace his way to Senapathy’s house and finds Senapathy posing as an ex freedom fighter. Archived newspaper reports say that Senapathy was an INA soldier who was an extremist. Senapathy’s wife (Sukanya) is asked what Senapathy did to deserve a freedom fighter tag, and at this point, we are taken to the 1940s. Rebellions against the British, atrocities etc are shown, culminating in Senapathy marrying Sukanya but leaving for Singapore to join Subash Chandra Bose as part of the Indian National Army. He returns after independence. Nedumudi Venu tries to arrest Senapathy, but his attempt is foiled, and Senapathy escapes with his expertise in Varma Kalai martial art.

Senapathy then goes on to commit a murder in front of television audiences by killing ‘Nizhalgal’ Ravi, a doctor who refused to attend immediately to Senapathy’s daughter (Kasturi), who was suffering from third degree burns. Instead, the doctor insisted on a bribe, which Senapathy refuses. Chandru parts ways with his father because of his excessive insistence on honesty etc. and considers these values to be dead and worthless. How Senapathy evades the police and escapes arrest forms a major portion of the remaining part of the story. Public support is very high for the Indian because he exposes so many corrupt people. Senapathy does not do his son any favours either. Chandru had earlier taken a bribe and given a licence to a bus driver whose bus was in an abysmal condition. The bus meets with an accident and thus Chandru is held responsible. Senapathy is bent on giving Chandru the same punishment as he gives others, i.e. death. Senapathy kills Chandru and escapes the clutches of the cops too.