A democracy campaigner, Veeran (MGR) on the run from monarchists ends up in the room of his lookalike prince Marthandam (MGR). An assassination attempt leaves the prince incapacitated, and Veeran has to take his place at the coronation. The replacement King starts a series of 'people oriented' reforms which cause a political upheaval among the elite. A rhetoric-laden MGR film at the start of his political rise, of interest to all his fans, and students of modern Tamil Nadu. The film has a Technicolor sequence in a tropical island which is a quirky kitsch bonus.