The film focuses on two love stories in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli; one takes place in the period of a day, while the other ensues for months.

Then it flashes back several months before when Amudha, a native village girl from Tiruchirappalli, arrives in Chennai for a job interview, but her sister is unable to meet her to direct her to her destination.

Meanwhile, Gautham realizes that he has fallen in love with Amudha and decides to go to Tiruchi to find her, despite not knowing her address and other any details except her name.

A few glimpses of other passengers are also seen: a mother and her child, a girls' athletic team, a newly married couple, two college students who are attracted to each other, and a man returning from Dubai to see his 5 years old daughter for the first time.

However, before a contract carriage (omni) bus named Sky travels is redirected, a tarp from a truck blows off and blocks the windshield.

[13] The Hindu reviewer Karthik Subramanian noted that it was a "laudable effort" adding that "despite some clichés, the film works well".

[14] Behindwoods gave 3 out of 5 and cited that it was a "loveable tale of commoners and their destiny" that had "simplicity as its biggest strength",[15] while Indiaglitz described it as "engaging entertainment" and "a whiff of fresh air in Tamil cinema".

[16] G Sai Shyam, another critic from The Hindu, wrote that it was "a novel attempt by the director" and that "the compelling screenplay with a strong message to everyone makes it a must watch film".

[18] Venkateswaran Narayanan from The Times of India gave 3 out of 5 and wrote that it was "the perfect example of a film relying solely on its screenplay and performances to strike it rich at the box office".

[19] Rohit Ramachandran of nowrunning.com rated it 4/5 stating that "Engeyum Eppodhum reminds us of the fragility of our own lives", going on to call it "one of the year's best".

[20] It later appeared on his 'Best of 2011' list[21] On the contrary, Gautaman Bhaskaran of Hindustan Times gave it 2.5 and praised the lead performances, while criticising the screenplay and the plot.

[24] M Saravanan was honoured with an award by the Human Rights Organisation on 18 December at Paramakudi for directing Engeyum Eppodhum with a very relevant social message which is the need of the hour.

[25][26] He also secured 50% of votes and was declared as the Best Director of 2011 in the year-end public poll conducted by Oneindia.in for directing Engeyum Eppodhum.