Ponmagal Vandhal 2020

In 2004, a horrific chain of events unraveled around ‘Psycho’ Jothi, a North Indian woman found guilty of the brutal murder of two young men, Rohit and Diwakar, as well as a series of kidnappings and murders of young girls. The end of her merciless spree came swiftly when she attempted to flee, marking the cessation of her violent reign. Fast forward fifteen years, the case is thrust back into the limelight, thanks to Petition Pethuraj, a dedicated Ooty resident determined to prove Jothi’s innocence. Venturing into the fray is his daughter, Venba, an aspiring lawyer with an unyielding passion for justice, who bravely confronts formidable adversaries in her quest.

As Venba delves deeper into the unsettling details of the case, she uncovers a labyrinth of deception that threatens to upend her life. Central to her findings is the key eyewitness Ramar, whose testimony against Jothi proves to be a mere fabrication, skillfully devised by the investigating officer DSP R. Alexander. Armed with this explosive evidence, Venba secures a second hearing, a pivotal moment that sees the introduction of Rajarathinam, a distinguished criminal lawyer enlisted by Varadharajan, the wealthy father of Rohit.

As Rajarathinam meticulously unravels the intricate web of lies, he effectively discredits Venba’s claims about Ramar’s witness status by undermining the alibi she thought she had discovered. The court proceedings take a gripping turn when Venba unveils a shocking piece of information: Jothi, initially assumed to be a North Indian immigrant, is actually Sakthijothi, a Tamilian who fled her hometown after eloping with a man from a different caste. Tragically, this act led to her husband’s murder by her own family in an unforgivable honor killing back in the early 1990s.

Continuing her crusade, Venba calls forth Pethuraj to recount his experience of harboring Sakthijothi in Ooty while she was pregnant and fleeing from her past. He recalls witnessing her feverishly pursue a car, only to realize it belonged to Rohit and Diwakar. Footage confirming this frantic chase unveils her true intentions—she was desperately searching for her daughter, the very Venba who now seeks justice.

As tensions build, Rajarathinam confronts Varadharajan about his concealment of significant details regarding the case, bringing to light oversights that had stymied the investigation. It becomes apparent that Jothi had indeed uncovered a decrepit bungalow in Lovedale, where her accusers had committed horrific acts against young girls. The unsettling discovery of a girl’s remains buried nearby belongs to Angel, a child who vanished during a school event.

As Venba continues her pursuit of the truth, she faces tremendous setbacks, including the revelation of Suresh Pandian’s tragic suicide. Just as she prepares to summon him to testify, this news lands heavily upon her and Pethuraj, which could have shifted the narrative in favor of Jothi.

As Venba struggles with despair, she unveils her own harrowing experience, revealing that she was a victim of assault by Rohit and Diwakar, a confession that carries profound weight. Her narrative exposes a deeper conspiracy orchestrated by Varadharajan aimed at shielding his son’s name and maintaining his power, with DSP Alexander caught in the fallout. This candid disclosure begins to sway public sentiment toward Jothi, instilling hope for her exoneration.

As the climax draws near, the judge shockingly announces that Varadharajan will be called to testify, yet it becomes evident that he has corrupted the judicial process, bribing the judge for a lenient outcome. This betrayal strikes hard, especially with Karpooram, a former ally of the judge. The courtroom turns into a battleground, charged with the urgency of revealing the truth.

When Rajarathinam finally confronts Varadharajan, the confrontation ignites longstanding tensions as Venba demands accountability for Jothi’s death, each word filled with purpose. She reconstructs the tragic events leading to the fateful day and paints a vivid image of desperation and loss.

In the midst of the trials, a shocking truth unfurls during Sakthijothi’s funeral—Venba discovers she is not merely Sakthijothi’s daughter but rather Angel, brought to safety by Sakthijothi herself after the tragic events unfolded. As Rajarathinam interrogates the implications of this bond, it becomes ordained that shared suffering has birthed an unbreakable connection, ensuring that the legacy of Sakthijothi endures through the courageous spirit of Venba.