Butterflies

Butterflies

Year: 1993

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Rajiv Anchal

Drama

Prince (Mohanlal), a race‑car driver and son of industrialist Bharathan Menon (K. P. Ummer) and Sreedevi (Sukumari), lives a carefree life—racing, entertaining his nephews at the family farm, and hanging out with friend Vettikkal Sadashivan (Jagadish). Sadashivan introduces him to relative Pavithran (Nandhu), who seeks help kidnapping his girlfriend. In a comic mix‑up, Prince and Sadashivan accidentally sedate and abduct another girl who shares the same name, played by Aishwarya.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Butterflies yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Butterflies (1993)

Trace every key event in Butterflies (1993) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Prince's carefree life and trouble with the law

Prince is an amateur race car driver who spends his days racing, hanging out at his farmhouse, and entertaining his nephews. He fights with local goons in Bangalore, which lands him in trouble with the police. His brothers Jayan and Balan come to his aid and help secure his release from the police station.

Bangalore (police station)
2

Father's disapproval and arranged alliance

His father, Bharathan Menon, disapproves of Prince's carefree lifestyle and begins seeking a suitable alliance for him. The mounting pressure from his family strains their relationship and sets up a clash of values.

Family home
3

The kidnapping plan begins

Sadasivan introduces Prince to Pavithran, who asks for help kidnapping his girlfriend so they can elope. In a comedy of errors, Prince and Sadasivan drug and kidnap a girl who shares the name Anju, not the intended partner. The real Anju remains at a girls' hostel.

City
4

Anju returns to the farm and the fallout

The next morning Prince realizes the mistake and drops the kidnapped girl back at her hostel. Anju later comes to stay at Prince's farmhouse, and her presence triggers distrust and resentment within Prince's family. Ultimately, Prince's entire family deserts him.

Prince's farmhouse
5

Obituary reveal and the twin sister twist

Das and Maya reveal in a news report that Anju is Colonel Devan Nambiar's daughter and that the dead girl was her twin sister, Manju. They hint at a tragic past linking the sisters and the Colonel's actions.

Present timeline Newspaper office
6

Manju's tragedy in Ooty and Nambiar's vengeance

Two years earlier in Ooty, Manju was raped by a group of men who used her father as a hostage, and she killed herself in front of him. In response, Nambiar hunted down and killed her rapists, and he was sentenced to death.

Two years ago Ooty
7

Nambiar's death sentence

Following these events, the court sentences Nambiar to death for killing the rapists. The punishment adds moral weight to Anju's struggle and frames her decision in a larger collision of justice and vengeance.

Present Court
8

Mercy petition and life imprisonment

A mercy petition is presented, and Nambiar's death sentence is reduced to life imprisonment.

Present Court
9

Anju's plan and Prince's intervention

On the day of Nambiar's execution, Anju plans to kill herself to join him in death, but Prince steps in to prevent it. He helps steer her toward choosing life, and their bond deepens.

Execution day Execution site / courthouse
10

Love confession

In the end, Prince and Anju confess their love for each other, signaling a new chapter beyond the tangled past.

Ending Prince's farmhouse

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:09

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Butterflies Summary

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Butterflies Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Butterflies

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Butterflies

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