I

PLOT SUMMARY

Lingesan (Vikram), a deformed hunchback who was once a body builder and a handsome model, seeks revenge on another male model who is responsible for ruining his life.

His story unfolds in a small town in Tamil Nadu. Lingesan is the local body-building champion. He gets crowned Mr Tamil Nadu. He ends up angering another gym guy called Ravi. The two even break into a fight, where Lingesan beats him hands down. Ravi therefore vows revenge.

On the personal front, Lingesan’s friend Babu (Santhanam) and his parents are aware that he is crazy about super-model Diya (Amy Jackson). In fact, they tease him because he buys all the products -- from sanitary napkins to ladies night-dresses just because Diya endorses them.

Lingesan, who lands small commercials for health products, one day, gets a chance to model with Diya. It so happens that Diya, who was earlier a hit pair with another super-model John (Upen Patel), is fed up of his flirtatious ways. She wants to get rid of John, so she befriends Lingesan and makes him her new ad-hero. The two of them travel to China to shoot for a perfume advertisement. Over there, they discover feelings for one another. While Lingesan actually admires Diya, she pretends to love him. After a small misunderstanding, they truly fall in love with one another. However, there is friction because a gay make-up artiste also falls in love with Lingesan, who is now called Lee.

When Lee refuses to reciprocate, the gay guy is annoyed. Back in India Lee becomes the reigning male super model and John wants to destroy him. An advertising boss also hates Lee because he is too honest and principled and refuses to do a soft-drink commercial for him (ad boss).

All the guys who hate Lee, with the help of a local doctor, inject him with the Influenza virus. This virus is so deadly that Lee starts to lose his hair and teeth. He also develops boils all over his body and becomes a hunchback. Since he is deformed, he distances himself from Diya though he had earlier promised to marry her. He is afraid of her rejection, especially since he is now a hunchback.

By a strange twist of fate, Lee is forced to kidnap Diya and take her to a hideout. Even while she is trying to figure out why this hunchback has kidnapped her, Lee keeps stepping out of his secret place and taking revenge on the men who made his life a living hell.

While trying to escape from the ugly deformed man’s clutches, Diya discovers Lee’s phone in his pocket. She then realises that the hunchback is actually Lingesan, her beau, who has been wrecked by the bad guys. She resolves to stick to her love and takes Lee with her to a beautiful home that they made together. Out there Diya slowly nurses him back to his original physical form and they live happily ever after.

(Do not proceed. Stop reading the plot summary right now if you don't want the crucial climax to be revealed)

Spoiler ahead - (Climax)

The doctor in the film, Vasudev (Suresh Gopi) who is Lee’s benefactor is also the family doctor for Diya and her mother. This guy is two-faced; a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He is a pervert who is fantasizing about young Diya and hopes to marry her someday. While he doesn’t let his secret feelings out till after the interval, he is the one who gives Lee the I (influenza) virus injection that makes him a deformed creature. The doctor is jealous because Lee and Diya are growing close. Of course, Lee takes revenge on all the five men who made his life a living hell, turn by turn. He sets the bodybuilder on fire; he ensures John is electrocuted in a fight on the train top; he mixes some hair-growing hormones in the gay make-up guy’s beauty cream; he sets a beehive loose on the advertising guru after covering him with honey so that he gets stung; finally he injects the doctor with the same I virus and deforms him.

The film starring South superstar Vikram and directed by the visionary filmmaker Shankar hit the screens on January 14, 2015.

Social media is abuzz with audience tweeting their experience watching the film.

Here are some of the responses from Twitter...

Vikram brother - you will be remembered for another 200 years. Respect and salute #I

— Prashanth (@itisprashanth) January 15, 2015

Full respect to Vikram for the lengths he has gone to shape the extremities of the character. This guy is plain suicidal! #I

— Sudhish Kamath (@SudhishKamath) January 15, 2015

#I is a magnificent effort on screen from @shankarshanmugh sir & @chiyaanvikram ... what an effort! An epic love story told spectacularly:-)

— Dhananjayan Govind (@Dhananjayang) January 15, 2015

#I Very solid role fr the beautiful @iamAmyJackson as Diya n she owns it completely in sync with her character. Her best aftr Madrasapatnam

— Karthik Dhandapani (@iamkarthikd) January 14, 2015

#I Vikram as stylish but innocent bodybuilder turned model in 1st half & ailing hunch back in 2nd half - Hats off & Salute

— Karthik Dhandapani (@iamkarthikd) January 14, 2015