Manasara (2010)

Rajapalayam in Kerala is a village where time has literally stood still. A maternal, ritualistic society where honour held its sword high. The village folk lived and breathed Kalaripayittu that was their God, life and justice and were totally cut off from the modern world. Vikram’s (Vikram) family is forced to move into this village, due to his father's job transfer.

Anjali (Sri Divya) is a village belle who teaches blind kids. Vikram falls in love with her, but conscious of his average looks is not sure the pretty Anjali would accept him.

His local benefactor Krishnan Kutty (Bhanu Chander) tells him that the secret to gain a woman’s love was not good looks but to have a good heart. Show her your heart, not your face, Kutty advises Vikram. Vikram follows the advice and masks himself and starts helping Anjali in difficult moments. The goodness of Vikram melts Anjali’s heart and she falls in love with him.

However, trouble begins to brew in Anjali’s home as her wicked step-mother tries to get Anjali closer to Rajan. Rajan is the national Kalaripayittu champ and is infamous for his arrogant and disrespectful attitude towards women, but Anjali's step-mother is blind to his flaws, because he is her brother.

Eventually, Anjali’s relationship with Vikram is discovered by Rajan and Anjali is locked up in her home. Rajan thrashes Vikram in front of Anjali and makes him lick his sandals in front of Anjali to show her Vikram’s cowardice. Vikram’s family is told to pack and leave town immediately.

Krishnan Kutty intervenes and calls for a meeting of the village elders. He tells them that Vikram’s only mistake is that he had fallen in love and that Anjali was in love with him too. He tells them that since their society is maternal the girl's wishes must be respected.

However, the village elders ordain that since Vikram is not a local, he does not have any rights and so must forget about Anjali and leave. But on further persuasion by Krishan Kutty, they reconsider their decision and deliver their verdict.

Since the girl has two suitors, only a competition of Kalaripayittu would determine who her husband would be. The winner would get her hand. The gauntlet is thrown and a boy with no knowledge of Kalaripayittu is pitted against the champ. Krishnan Kutty decides to train Vikram and Anjali’s father trains Rajan.

Both Anjali’s father and Krishnan Kutty were disciples of one master and had a score to settle themselves. What will the result of the brutally violent ten round Kalaripayittu match be? Can true love overcome Rajan's years of experience and skill?