Sulthan

"Sulthan" (2021) is an action thriller Tamil film written and directed by Bakkiyaraj Kannan and produced under Dream Warrior Pictures. Karthi plays the lead role along with Rashmika Mandanna and Ramachandra Raju. The story follows the protagonist, who was raised by gangsters and tries to change their lifestyle while defending a village from serious threats.

In 1986, gangster Sethupathi commands a gang of 100 vigilantes in Madras. When intruders raid their house, his pregnant wife, Annalakshmi, goes into labor and dies upon giving birth to a son. Sethupathi leaves the child to his second-in-command, Mansoor, who names him Vikram, henceforth referred to as Sulthan. Brought up by the gang with caution and devotion, Sulthan grows up looking up to them as family. He subsequently immigrates overseas to pursue Robotics Engineering.

Years later, a village elder asks Sethupathi to eliminate Jayaseelan, an inhuman outlaw terrorising farmers. Sulthan comes back to India, yet tensions erupt once disguised assailants severely hurt Sethupathi. After Sethupathi's assassination, Sulthan discovers the killers were policemen working on a mission by Commissioner Manickavel's command. Sulthan seeks six months in order to make the gang acceptable, with his aim being to stop their downfall and lead them into a legal career.

In order not to escalate tensions further, Sulthan moves the gang to an isolated village. There, Sulthan befriends Rukmani, the headman's daughter, and establishes a connection with her. In preparation to assassinate Jayaseelan, Sulthan persuades the gang members to shift attention to guarding villagers and demonstrating the fertility of the land to avoid corporate mining initiatives. They incur interference from Jayaseelan's men and that of businessman John Dhar.

Following setbacks and Mansoor's injury, Sulthan reunites the gang. They defeat Jayaseelan in a climactic battle, opting for agriculture and peace over violence. Sulthan's efforts change the gang into farmers and protectors. The villagers live well by the end of the film as Sulthan and Rukmani embrace a future full of hope.