Rudran (Girish Karnad), a very strict disciplinarian father of two daughters, hates the word 'Love'. The very mention of this word makes him punish himself to unimaginable heights. He has disowned his elder daughter Menaka (Dhaarini) because she eloped with her lover. The strictness is doubled for the younger daughter Thilottama (Maanu), and a marriage alliance is fixed for her. She stoically accepts her father's decision until she meets Shiva (Ajith Kumar), a local mechanic. Shiva lives with his friend Oyya (Vivek (actor)) in a mansion owned by Mess Viswanthan (M. S. Viswanathan), Shiva is always ready to accept dares. When Menaka dares him to go to Delhi to deliver a letter to Thilothama, Shiva ends up falling in love with Thilothama, but she is unable to reveal her love to Shiva and her father, as she fears the consequences. Are the lovers able to declare their love for each other and get united? Does Rudran take to it kindly?