Synopsis : Dayalan (Samuthirakani) is a newly appointed teacher of a government school in Vanthaarangudi village near Thiruvannamalai city. He is unhappy with the education system and is also worried about the pitiable condition of education of government schools. After joining the school, he tries to change the school's environment. This is not welcome by Singaperumal (Thambi Ramaiah), who is Assistant Head Master (AHM).

Description : Saattai (English : Whip) is a 2012 Indian Tamil drama film written and directed by M. Anbazhagan. The film features Samuthirakani and Thambi Ramaiah in pivotal roles.[1] The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by D. Imman. The shooting took place in NLC and Thiruvannamalai. The film is the first installment of the Saattai franchise and was followed by a spin-off, Appa (2016), and a sequel Adutha Saattai (2019). The movie was officially remade in Kannada in 2020 as Drona. Dayalan's decision for the change does not go well with the other teachers and students, but his good moves were slowly noticed by Pandian (Junior Balaiah). Slowly, Dayalan gets popular among the class students. In between, there is love between Pazhanimuthu (Yuvan) and Arivazhagi (Mahima Nambiar). Pazhani's father is also a teacher in the same school. Singaperumal was waiting for a turn to take revenge on Dayalan. In these situation, Arivazhagi was sexually abused by somebody. Singaperumal files a case against Dayalan as a culprit. After Arivazhagi opens the statement to the police that another teacher is her abuser, Dayalan was released. Dayalan organizes an inter-school competition between schools. Dayalan's school gets first place because of Arivazhagi's and Pazhani's hard work. After that, Dayalan gets attacked by mobs arranged by Singaperumal. Dayalan gets admitted in the hospital. All of the students and teachers go to the hospital to see him and they were denied to see him by the hospital authorities as he is in very critical condition. Then arrives his wife and inspires the students to study for the coming exams. Students study well and they top their district, and the movie ends with Dayalan giving the responsibility of HM to Singaperumal, who reforms and apologizes to him. The movie ends with Dayalan going to the next village to reform another government school.