Muniyandi, a man of bull-like strength and simplicity, tends the castle in an Indo-Swiss farm. Sankaran is the superintendent. The relationship between the two is something more complex than one between a superior and a lowly worker. Muniyandi is invited to drink with Sankaran. Muniyandi's inarticulate gratitude gratitude and affection taking voice in singing traditional hymns addressed to Shiva. The unspoken loyalty to Sankaran has no servility about it. In constrast, Sankaran's colleague Jacob is a callous task-master, who assaults the peace of the countryside with his menacing motorbike.

Muniyandi brings home a bride Sivakami from his native town Chidambaram. Sivakami is overwhelmed by the lish beauty of the hills and flowering trees which awaken her own sensousness. Sankaran becomes aware of Sivakami's beauty. She betrays her marriage. It is not clear what prompts her to do so.

The suspicion of Sivakami's infidelity drives Muniyadi to suicide. Sankaran's guilt over the sexxual lapse is compounded by the greater sin of driving a trusting friend to death. He wanders aimlessly and finally reaches the scared temple of Chidambaram. The vast courtyards and unending corridors are the lonely spaces the soul has to traverse, the maze of maya or illusion it has to escape to attain salvation.

Sankaran comes upon a woman, attending the pilgrim's footwear, whom he sees as a sorrowing, defeated Sivakami... A long wordless look... the camera which had remained at ground level begins a gradual pan up the great temple spire to the rhythm of orchestrated drums till it dissolves into the sky...