Tamil cinema tends to surprise you with the story and the direction. A mere common man’s story can turn outlandish in a Tamil action film. When it comes to family drama, the relatability factor is higher, as the stories resemble those of any person we might have read about on social media or in a newspaper. Thirumanickam is one such story of a common man who went out of his way to help another regular person who is not related to him.
Spoilers Ahead
Was Manickam leading a happy family life?
The story of Manickam was explained through the narrative device of his daughter being given an assignment to write about her family. Manickam was happily married to Sumathi and had two children with her. Her younger daughter Vanathi had not yet started speaking, and this was a cause of concern for everyone living with them, including Manickam and his wife. Manickam’s uncle, mother, and mother-in-law lived with them, and they were a happy family. Manickam ran a lottery shop, and all of them lived in Kumily, a village bordering Tamil Nadu in Kerala. Sumathi was a home cook whose food was a big hit amongst factory workers, and she earned well from that business. Both she and Manickam led a peaceful life. Their only cause of concern was Vanathi’s lack of speech, as its treatment would require a lot of money, which none of them had.
Was the old man in need of money?
An old man was insulted by his daughter’s mother-in-law and husband for not paying enough dowry. The old man was very poor, and his daughter was pregnant as well, yet her husband did not have the heart to bring her back. The old man was in dire need of money when he came across Manickam and his lottery shop. Out of sheer excitement, he wanted to play the lottery, which had a payout of one crore, but sadly he had no money to buy a ticket with. The old man’s condition was really sad, and out of sheer desire to help him, Manickam asked to keep the ticket and he was okay with the old man paying money the next day. Manickam was kindhearted, and he was in no mood to be rude to an already destitute man who had given up on life because of lack of money.
Who won the lottery?
The next morning, only a few days before Onam as always, Kerala state announced the lottery winners, and the ticket chosen by the old man was picked to be the winner. Manickam was happy that he would get a huge commission out of this win, but he was more ecstatic about the old man winning since he was upset on watching his dire condition. Manickam realized the old man was the one person who required this money more than anyone. He set out to find the old man based on the address mentioned on the bag he left behind. It was a long shot, but Manickam was optimistic about locating the man and sharing the good news.
Was Manickam stopped by his wife?
Manickam shared the news of his lottery winning to Sumathi; in addition, he also mentioned the old man had technically not paid for the ticket. Sumathi, who was only thinking about her family and their financial condition, asked him to collect the money for himself and forget the old man. Manickam, honest person that he was, could not believe the words Sumathi was uttering and refused to act on her request since his conscience wouldn’t allow that. Manickam outright refused since, at heart, he knew the money did not belong to him, and pocketing it would be fraud. Sumathi was right about the technicality; however, Manickam refused her request and switched off his phone.
What were the obstacles faced by Manickam?
Sumathi was hell-bent on stopping Manickam from approaching the old man and delivering the winning lottery ticket. She felt the money could help her and the family more than any stranger Manickam chose to believe. She asked her brother to locate Manickam, but the man had already left the bus stop. The brother was in need of money for his UAE visa, which was why he was interested in helping his sister find her husband. Everyone had an ulterior motive, excluding Manickam, who was true to himself about his actions and refused to budge. Sumathi out of desperation made the father of the church convince Manickam to keep the money for himself, yet the man was very strong about his ideals. Sumathi also tried to emotionally blackmail him with death threats, yet that did not have any effect on the purpose-driven Manickam. He almost lost the ticket, but it seemed like the man was destined to deliver it to the deserving person.
Who all were informed about the lottery ticket?
A desperate Sumathi went ahead and informed the local police station about it. It was naive of them to approach the police and inform them why Manickam ‘deserves’ the money. The corrupt police officer decided to use his power to arrest Manickam and keep the lottery ticket for himself. Since the police could manipulate the situation, they planned to use their influence to get the money by harassing Manickam and his family, who come from poor backgrounds. The police wanted to get their hands on the money first before Sumathi’s brother could reach it. Their plan was sinister, yet Sumathi and her family chose to trust the police.
What was Manickam’s past?
Sumathi, in her last attempt to convince her husband to keep the lottery ticket, decided to bring in the big guns. Her youngest daughter, Vanathi, could barely talk. She managed to convey her mother’s message after being manipulated into doing so. Manickam was moved by Vanathi’s effort, but he began to narrate the story of why he couldn’t steal the lottery ticket. Manickam, as a child, had stolen from a lottery ticket vendor, and the same man did not give him away to the police. A young Manickam was puzzled by this man’s move and asked why he let him go. The lottery vendor was an empathetic man who felt bad for the young Manickam and saw potential in him. He was not keen on sending the boy to a juvenile home, and hence he took Manickam under his wing, encouraging him to work and study at the same time. This was a good move by the lottery vendor, since Manickam needed guidance, and he found it in him. However, the young Manickam was arrested again, and this time the lottery vendor died trying to save the young boy. The dying man made Manickam promise not to steal again, and the boy, as he grew older, kept his word. The lottery vendor was his mentor, and he chose to honor him by being honest till his last breath. The story moved Sumathi, Vanathi, and the entire family, forcing them to back off from their plan.
Was Manickam arrested?
Manickam had changed buses to reach the old man’s house. It was probably his destiny to meet the man and offer him the money he deserved. Manickam was not aware of the address, yet he chose to believe the path would lead him there. The police officers handed over the job of arresting Manickam under thievery and drug charges to his subordinates. The only way out for them was to get their hands on the lottery ticket. The police were the enemy, and they wouldn’t have gotten themselves involved in this cat-and-mouse chase if not for Sumathi and Manickam’s family. The police finally caught up to Manickam, and he was arrested on the charges mentioned above. The police were one step away from getting their hands on the lottery ticket. To their shock, Manickam ran away without any hesitation, since he had learned many maneuvers from his childhood days. The flashback was shared to show that Manickam had not forgotten any of his tricks, and hence he could get away.
Did Manickam deliver the lottery ticket?
Manickam reached the old man’s home and delivered the lottery ticket, as he had decided. He shared the happy news, which made the old man and his family ecstatic. Manickam was feeling good at heart, and he felt as if he had fulfilled his mentor’s wish by not keeping the money for himself. The old man was also happy since Manickam did not keep the lottery ticket for himself and shared news of his goodwill with his neighbors. Manickam, the old man, and his family shared a heartfelt moment since both parties had not expected to meet again. The old man also had lost hope of ever acquiring such a large amount. Neighbors began to take a video of the story the old man shared, and soon Manickam became a famous personality. Thanks to the magic of social media, he became an internet sensation known for his humanity and heartfelt gesture. The police who were chasing Manickam backed off fearing backlash from the townspeople. People at this point were happy, and since Manickam was not a criminal, the police would not be able to get away with arresting an innocent man.
Thirumanickam ended with Manickam being felicitated by the Kerala state government for his noble gesture that would inspire many to be good people. Manickam had not expected this since he was only following in the footsteps of his mentor. As a reward, Sumathi was given a government job; the children’s school and medical expenses would be paid for. Manickam was stunned, since he’d never wanted anything in return as he was only doing his job. Turns out there were few generous men like him, and that could be the reason he was put on a pedestal. Manickam spoke to the media for one last time about the reasons behind his gesture, and he was clearly overwhelmed. His family, who were against his move, came to their senses since his one move changed their life forever. Manickam got a glimpse of his mentor one last time, and we assume he moved on with his life as a lottery vendor. He was indeed a simple man who did not desire much but to have a happy family and a content life.