It tells the story of Rajamanikyam aka Bellary Raja (Mammootty), a Karnataka based buffalo businessman who tries to unite his warring siblings.
In a village in Southern Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu lives a wealthy and respectful businessman named Raja Rathnam Pillai.
Following the demise of his first wife, he marries Muthu Lakshmi so that Selvam, the child from his first marriage will not grow up without the love and care of a mother.
Once Raja Rathnam realises the truth, he takes Muthu into his care, giving him love, affection and a new name, "Rajamanikyam".
Selvam, aided by his childhood buddy Simon Nadar also notches up a plot to frame his own father in a murder case.
Witnessing the riots, Raja Rathnam dies of a heart attack - sitting inside the police van - while being taken to the prison.
But Manikyam never falls for any of their attempts and he uses his adopted brother and manager Raju to stabilize the assets of his stepfather and prevents it from getting into the hands of his siblings, thereby preserving it.
Feeling deeply disappointed - on being unable to fulfill his father's wish to unite their family, Manikyam prepares to leave for Bellary.
At that night Selvam, being absolutely drunk and weeping comes to Manikyam's house and apologizes for all his past deeds and embraces him - burying all differences.
Manikyam is deeply moved and laments that, Raja Rathnam was unfortunate as he 'left early' (An untimely death) and he could not witness the conciliation.
Varghese, a close confidant and trusted ally of Raja Rathnam, reveals that he was rather 'packed off' (A murder) - resulting in the narration of the deceit and Manikyam and acolytes go in search for the actual assailant.
Actor Suraj Venjaramoodu was roped in to help Mammootty get the hang of the slang spoken in the border areas of Thiruvananthapuram.
Sreenath Nair of the Deccan Herald wrote, "Mammooty does justice to his superstar tag and his portrayal of Bellary Raja eclipses the rest of the cast - Cochin Haneefa, Sai Kumar, Manoj K Jayan, etc.