[2] Karky (Pa. Vijay) is the son of Arokkyasami (Nassar), who wants to win freedom of his people from the shipbuilding owner Rajanayagam (Suman) and his wife Sena (Namitha).

Karky's mother Valliammai (Khushbu) is initially reluctant to wage war against evil openly as she is afraid of bloodshed.

[3] Sify wrote "The film is made like an old fashioned steamy tear jerker where good triumphs over evil in the last reel.

[4] The Times of India wrote "It is very obvious that a lot of money has been pumped into the venture, but the archaic writing and hackneyed situations never allow ‘Ilaignan’ to grow among the audience and bloom into youth".

[5] The New Indian Express wrote "'Illaignan' is neither a seriously meaningful film, nor an engrossing commercial entertainer although the script boasts of a good potential".