Petta (lit. Hood) is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under his production studio Sun Pictures. The film stars Rajinikanth with an ensemble cast including Vijay Sethupathi, Simran, Trisha, M. Sasikumar, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bobby Simha, J. Mahendran and Guru Somasundaram. It was released on 10 January 2019.
Kaali, a mysterious and deceivingly elderly man, takes up the job of a boys’ hostel warden at a college in Ooty. He notices that the hostel is dominated by a group of unruly final-year students, who are led by Michael, the spoiled son of a local leader named Gnanam. Kaali puts a stop to Michael’s antics, which leads to enmity between the two. Kaali also forms a close bond with a NRI hostelite named Anwar, who is in a relationship with Anu, the daughter of Mangalam, a pranic healer. Kaali convinces Mangalam to accept her daughter’s relationship with Anwar, and they end up falling in love.
Michael, who lusts for Anu, is angered on hearing of her relationship with Anwar. He attempts to harass them, only to be stopped by Kaali, who ensures the suspension of Michael and his friends, with Anwar recording and sharing the humiliation of Michael and his gang. This video is noticed far away in Uttar Pradesh by a local goon named Jithu, the son of a powerful politician called Singaaram alias Singaar Singh. Singaar, on seeing Anwar in the video as well as in a photo with his mother on Facebook, sends his men to Ooty to kill Anwar, for unknown reasons. At the same time, Michael, humiliated at his suspension, sends his men to beat up Kaali. Michael’s plan backfires as he and his men are caught in the fight between Kaali and Singaar’s men. Kaali subdues Singaar’s men, earning Michael’s and Gnanam’s respect, following which Anwar learns about his past.