The story of J C Daniel, who made the first ever Malayalam film 'Vigathakumaran' in 1928, resulting in his exile and eventual downfall.

CELLULOID depicts the life and times of Dr J.C. DANIEL, the pioneer of Malayalam cinema. A story panning over 70 years between 1926 and 2000, CELLULOID tells the story of how Daniel made the first Malayalam motion picture. 'VIGATHAKUMARAN' . Celluloid further follows the demise of J.C Daniel since this incident, and covers his life story to his death bed. How he died without being recognized for his work, as he did not have a single piece of film roll to prove he had actually made such a film. In a day and age, when films are everything that is glamorous about our society, it's a worthwhile look back at the man who started it all.—Anonymous

Celluloid tells the tale of J. C. Daniel (Prithviraj) and his love for cinema. He goes to great lengths to get the equipment required to make a movie, writing numerous letters, visiting places and meeting Dada Saheb Phalke-the man who brought cinema to India. Getting a female artiste to act in his movie was a tough task. It is decided that Rosamma, rechristened later as P K Rosy (Chandni), will essay the lead role in J. C. Daniel's revolutionary 'motion picture' venture, Vigathakumaran, the story of which J. C. Daniel himself conceived. He sells everything to make his dream a reality, further borrowing money to meet the expenses. When finally Vigathakumaran is screened at Capitol Theatre, a 'cinemapura', the upper caste members of the audience creates a ruckus over a lower caste girl acting as a Nair lady. Rosie, hunted by the Madambis leaves town never to be seen again. Years later, the shrivelled, poverty ridden Daniel, with only his wife Janet (Mamta Mohandas) by his side, is leading a life far removed from what he had envisaged. Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan's (Sreenivasan) interest in Daniel's life, his efforts to give him his due and the flashbacks to the incidents in Daniel's life after Vigathakumaran form the rest of the movie.