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Timeline

Aby (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 132 mins · Malayalam
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Directed by
Srikant Murali
Starring
Dileesh Pothan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Sudheer Karamana, Praseetha Menon, Balaji Sarma, Aju Varghese

An emotionally childish man who never outgrows his childish fascination for flying, dreams of making his own aircraft which is considered foolish by his family and friends.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Aby Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Aby (2017) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Dreams of flight begin in childhood

    As a child, Aby repeatedly jumps from elevated spots hoping to fly, often injuring himself in the attempt. He speaks very little and shows signs of a mental disability, which lands him in a special-needs school. These early stunts establish the lifelong dream that drives him.

    When
    Childhood
    Where
    Aby's hometown
  2. Family deceit and tragedy

    Aby's father exploits his son to gain sympathy for selling policies to customers. Aby's mother discovers Aby's absence from school, and a fierce fight erupts between the parents. The conflict ends with Aby's mother dying the following morning.

    When
    Childhood / early years
    Where
    Aby's home
  3. Adolescence in a local workshop

    Years later, Aby is an adolescent working in a mechanical workshop and shows a savant-level talent for electronics. His father's alcoholism continues to impair the family, taking Aby's earnings for himself. His neighbor Anumol and Kunjootan are among the peers in his circle at school and in town.

    When
    Adolescence
    Where
    Local mechanical workshop
  4. Science project sparks a feud

    Anumol asks Aby to help with a science project that earns wide recognition and prizes for Anumol. On the day she is honored, Aby's father arrives and demands the money Aby earned, triggering a feud that unsettles the neighborhood.

    When
    Adolescence
    Where
    Village community
  5. Destructive act and escape

    Aby's father's escalating alcoholism leads him to burn Aby's mockup helicopter built from an auto-rickshaw. The confrontation prompts Aby to flee his town and seek a fresh start elsewhere.

    When
    Adolescence
    Where
    Aby's hometown
  6. Move to Bangalore and new allies

    In Bangalore, Aby meets salvage workers who buy and sell scrap for a living. He fixes a broken phone, helps them with a prank, and gradually earns their trust, joining their small crew.

    When
    Early Bangalore days
    Where
    Bangalore, India
  7. Mentor arrives: G. K. Menon

    A discarded toy airplane leads Aby to G. K. Menon, an alcoholic aeroplane manufacturer who quickly recognizes Aby's engineering gift. Menon shares basic aviation knowledge and fuels Aby's growing fascination with flight.

    When
    Early Bangalore
    Where
    Bangalore
  8. First aircraft project and crash

    Menon lands a job to manufacture a light aircraft and Aby joins, recording conversations to learn more. When the aircraft is built, Aby becomes overexcited and tries to ride it, crashing and earning Menon's anger, who tells him to leave.

    When
    During the Bangalore period
    Where
    Bangalore
  9. Seven years later: glider dream takes shape

    Seven years after his return home, Aby has gathered materials and begins building a glider with Anumol's help. The project draws media attention and awakens interest from distant places, while Anumol's father guards against Aby's growing influence.

    When
    Seven years later
    Where
    Aby's hometown
  10. Legal hurdles loom over the debut

    The homemade glider is ready for its debut, but authorities say the flight is illegal without proper paperwork. With Anumol's help, Aby assembles the required documents, and Menon endorses the model as a legitimate aircraft.

    When
    Debut preparations
    Where
    Village airfield
  11. Family tensions and fragile compromise

    Anumol's father attempts to sabotage the paperwork, then has a change of heart and agrees to support Aby's dream. Anumol pleads with him to allow the flight, and the town watches as tensions simmer.

    When
    During paperwork
    Where
    Airfield vicinity
  12. Disability tip and escalating quarrel

    Law enforcement is tipped about Aby's disability and the lack of a certified pilot, triggering a heated public quarrel. Anumol's father confesses tipping against Aby, while Menon vouches for Aby's mental status.

    When
    Just before flight
    Where
    Airfield and crowd
  13. The flight that proves him real

    With Menon's guidance, Aby takes to the glider and completes the flight amid astonished onlookers. The successful glide silences the hostility and fills the crowd with pride in his achievement.

    When
    Flight day
    Where
    Airfield
  14. Dream realized: airborne success and recognition

    The film closes with Aby as an expert glider pilot, selected by Air Asia in Dubai and soaring the skies. The long road from childhood dream to professional milestone is finally fulfilled, symbolizing the triumph of perseverance.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Dubai (Air Asia)

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:52

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Timeline questions answered

Aby Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Aby (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Aby's mother die after the fight with his father?

Aby's mother dies the morning after a fierce quarrel with her husband George. The fight erupts when she discovers that George has been leveraging Aby's condition to manipulate customers into signing insurance policies. The argument becomes so intense that it triggers a devastating emotional breakdown, and she passes away the following morning, leaving Aby with deep emotional trauma and a stubborn resolve to pursue his dreams.

  • mother death
  • family fight
  • George father
  • emotional trauma
Q2

Why does Aby's father burn his helicopter mockup?

Aby's father George, consumed by alcoholism, burns the mockup helicopter that Aby built from an auto-rickshaw during a violent flare-up. This destructive act represents the culmination of years of alcoholism and financial desperation, where George has been taking Aby's earnings and causing ongoing family conflict. The burning of the helicopter crushes Aby's dreams and directly prompts him to leave his hometown.

  • helicopter mockup
  • George alcoholism
  • auto-rickshaw
  • family destruction
Q3

Why does Aby leave his hometown after the helicopter is burned?

After his father burns the helicopter mockup, Aby is crushed by disappointment and anger. The destruction of his creation, combined with years of his father's alcoholism and the ongoing family struggles, leads Aby to abandon his hometown in search of a fresh start and new opportunities to pursue his flying dreams.

  • Aby departure
  • hometown
  • disappointment
  • new beginning
Q4

Why does Menon get angry and send Aby away after the aircraft crash?

When Aby joins G.K. Menon's project to build a light aircraft, he becomes overexcited and attempts to ride the aircraft before it is properly tested. The aircraft crashes, and Menon, furious at this reckless behavior, dismisses Aby and tells him to leave. This setback sends Aby back to his hometown with more questions than answers about his dream.

  • Menon
  • aircraft crash
  • anger
  • dismissal
  • Bangalore
Q5

Why do authorities claim Aby's glider flight is illegal?

When Aby's homemade glider is ready for its debut flight, authorities declare it illegal because the paperwork is incomplete and no certified pilot is operating the craft. Additionally, a tip reaches officials claiming that Aby's disability makes the flight illegal, sparking a heated public confrontation about his capability to fly.

  • illegal flight
  • paperwork
  • authorities
  • legal clearance
  • glider
Q6

Who tips off the authorities about Aby's disability?

Anumol's father is the one who tips off the authorities about Aby's disability, attempting to sabotage the flight. However, he later has a change of heart and agrees to support Aby's dream after witnessing Aby's dedication and the community's support.

  • Anumol father
  • tip
  • authorities
  • disability
  • sabotage
Q7

How does Anumol's father finally support Aby's dream?

Initially hostile toward Aby, Anumol's father attempts to block the flight by tipping authorities. However, after witnessing Aby's unwavering dedication and the community's belief in his abilities, he experiences a change of heart. He agrees to support Aby's dream and helps secure the necessary paperwork for the flight to proceed legally.

  • Anumol father
  • support
  • dream
  • change of heart
  • approval
Q8

What is Aby's mental condition and how does it affect the story?

Aby displays signs of a mental disability from childhood, attending a special-needs school and communicating very little. Despite this, he possesses remarkable savant-level talent in electronics and mechanics. His condition becomes a point of contention when authorities question his capability to fly, but Menon vouches for his mental fitness and skill, proving that his determination outweighs societal prejudice.

  • mental disability
  • special needs
  • savant
  • electronics
  • capability
Q9

How does Aby finally get legal clearance to fly?

With Anumol's help, Aby assembles the required documents and paperwork for his glider. Menon endorses the model as a legitimate aircraft. Despite the tip about Aby's disability and the lack of a certified pilot, Menon vouches for Aby's mental fitness. After a heated confrontation, the paperwork is finally approved and legal clearance is secured, allowing Aby to attempt his flight.

  • legal clearance
  • paperwork
  • Menon endorsement
  • approval
  • authorities
Q10

Why does the science project cause a feud between Aby's family and neighbors?

Anumol enlists Aby's help for a science project that earns wide recognition and prizes. However, on the day Anumol is honored, Aby's father George arrives demanding the prize money Aby earned from the project. This triggers a bitter feud with the neighbors, reflecting George's alcoholism and financial desperation that has plagued the family throughout the story.

  • science project
  • Anumol
  • prize money
  • George
  • feud
  • neighbors
Q11

How does G.K. Menon help Aby's flying dream?

G.K. Menon, an alcoholic aeroplane manufacturer, recognizes Aby's talent and passion for flight when Aby brings him a discarded toy airplane. Menon teaches Aby rudimentary flight concepts, encourages him to dream bigger, and eventually hires him to help build a light aircraft. Later, when Aby builds his glider, Menon vouches for its design quality and Aby's capability, helping secure legal approval for the historic flight.

  • Menon
  • mentor
  • aircraft
  • flight lessons
  • endorsement
  • support

Movie threads

More Movies Like Aby, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Aby tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about perseverant dreamers like Aby

Characters who pursue an unconventional dream against all odds and doubt. If you enjoyed Aby's story of unwavering dedication, you'll appreciate these movies about individuals chasing unconventional dreams. This list features hopeful dramas and inspiring stories where characters overcome doubt and hardship through sheer perseverance, leading to uplifting and triumphant conclusions.

  • hopeful
  • perseverance
  • triumphant
  • dreamlike
  • nostalgic
  • inspiring
  • Tone: hopeful, triumphant
  • Pacing: steady, chronological
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a linear, character-driven arc spanning a significant portion of the protagonist's life. The central conflict arises from the clash between the dreamer's vision and the practical, skeptical world around them. The plot is built around incremental progress and setbacks, emphasizing determination over flashy action.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core narrative of resilience and hopeful aspiration. They feature protagonists who are often seen as foolish or naive, yet their unwavering focus and gradual progress create a deeply satisfying and emotionally resonant journey for the viewer, ending on a note of hard-won victory.

Movies about quirky small-town life like Aby

Stories set in close-knit communities where an outsider's passion challenges the norm. Fans of Aby's small-town setting will find similar vibes in these community-focused dramas. Explore stories where a tight-knit environment shapes an eccentric character's journey, featuring themes of local support, societal prejudice, and the quiet triumphs that define life away from the city.

  • small-town
  • nostalgic
  • community
  • eccentric
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • Tone: hopeful, melancholic, nostalgic
  • Pacing: steady, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist whose ambitions are at odds with the conservative values or simple expectations of their community. The plot explores the dynamics of local relationships—both supportive and antagonistic—and how the protagonist's perseverance can eventually win over or transform their surroundings. The setting provides both conflict and eventual solace.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their exploration of how individuality flourishes within, or in spite of, a constrained community. They share a specific mood blend of melancholic nostalgia and hopeful triumph, grounded by a steady, observational pacing that lets the setting and its characters breathe.

Every angle

Aby (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Aby in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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