What if success comes easy — but at someone else’s cost?
That’s what happens to Ragavan, the hero of Dragon (2025). Once a brilliant student, he changes after a heartbreak. He stops studying and takes shortcuts to succeed — even faking his credentials to land a top job at an MNC.
When asked to clear his backlogs, he cheats again, swapping his exam paper with Venkat’s — a hardworking student from a poor background. Venkat fails because of this, losing his dream job at Google. Ragavan, on the other hand, keeps climbing the corporate ladder, unaware of the damage he’s caused.
The Turning Point
Ragavan later learns what happened to Venkat. Guilt eats him alive. He realizes his success is built on lies and someone else’s suffering. He confesses everything — to his boss, his girlfriend, and even accepts jail time. After his release, he chooses to live an honest, simple life.
The Thirukkural Connection
This story perfectly reflects Thirukkural 293:
"தன்நெஞ்சு அறிவது பொய்யற்க; பொய்த்தபின்
தன்நெஞ்சே தன்னைச் சுடும்."
(“Don’t act against what your heart knows is right; if you do, your own heart will burn you.”)
Ragavan learns the hard way that no success feels good when your heart knows it’s a lie. His guilt became his punishment, proving that Thiruvalluvar’s wisdom still holds true today.
The Lesson
Shortcuts may seem tempting, but they often come with a price — a price your heart won’t let you forget.