Inspired by a real-life incident, the film focuses on environmental pollution and exploitation of industrial workers.

The film's soundtrack was made up from an album composed by L. Vaidyanathan with the lyrics of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati.

It was screened at the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India, and in the Soviet Union, where it won the Afro–Asian Solidarity Award.

Anand, a skilled engineering graduate, comes to a village from Madras to work in a cement factory.

Dr Prema, a government doctor, informs Sudhakar that the disease has advanced and he needs to be treated in Chennai.

Kulashekara Perumal, the factory owner, refuses to provide treatment to Sudhakar, resulting in the latter's death.

A distressed Anand pleads with the management to look into the issue and to provide the employees with benefits that they are entitled to receive, but he is refused.

Dr Prema also lets Anand know that she reported the death to the government health ministry, but nothing will be done about it because Ramkumar has bribed all the officials.

He also promises the factory workers that he will build a new chimney to reduce the air pollution if they call off the strike.

[5] However, after the screen test, the crew felt that he was "hero material" and elected him to play the lead role.

[2][10] In its review, the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan appreciated the film's theme but criticised its failure to provide a solution for the issue of factory air pollution.

[2] Thiraignani of Kalki praised the acting of Raghuvaran, Hariharan's direction, Dharma's cinematography, Somasundareshwar-Arunmozhi's dialogues and Vaidyanathan's music.

It was also one of India's official entries to the 13th Moscow International Film Festival (1983), where it was nominated for the Golden St. George prize.