Chithram

Chithram

Year: 1988

Runtime: 159 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Priyadarshan

ComedyDrama

After her boyfriend abruptly abandons her on the eve of their wedding—because she stands to inherit nothing from her late father—she faces humiliation when her father arrives to arrange the marriage. To preserve her family’s honor and avoid scandal, she convinces a stranger to pose as her husband, creating a deception that soon spirals into unforeseen complications.

Chithram (1988) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Chithram (1988) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the sun‑dappled streets of Madras, a world of family prestige and careful tradition frames the life of Kalyani, the only daughter of a prosperous NRI who lives abroad. Raised by a loyal caretaker, she moves within a close‑knit community where honor and reputation are carefully guarded, and where the expectations of marriage linger like an ever‑present festival banner.

When her arranged love story unravels at the altar—her fiancé abandoning her to protect a distant inheritance—her ailing father’s hope of securing a joyful memory for his final days takes a sudden turn. To shield his daughter from public disgrace, the caretaker devises a daring solution: enlist a stranger to stand in as husband for a brief fortnight, buying time and preserving dignity amid looming scandal.

Enter Vishnu, a quick‑witted drifter whose sharp humor masks a restless edge, and Purushothaman Kaimal, the ever‑resourceful guardian who orchestrates the unlikely partnership. Their meeting sets a tone that oscillates between comedy and underlying melancholy, as two strangers must adopt the rituals of marriage while navigating awkward conversations, cultural quirks, and the nervous energy of a performance that cannot be rehearsed.

Adding another layer of tension, Bhaskaran Nambiar, a cousin and estate caretaker with his own concerns about inheritance, watches the charade with suspicion. His interference promises to stir the delicate balance of deception, hinting at the ripple effects that a fabricated union can create in a world where appearances matter as much as truth. The stage is set for a poignant exploration of identity, sacrifice, and the fragile line between pretense and genuine connection.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:47

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with fake relationships like in Chithram

Stories where a lie for convenience becomes an unexpectedly real and painful bond.If you liked the complex emotional web of Chithram's pretend marriage, explore more movies where a deception of convenience spirals into real feelings. These films blend romance, drama, and comedy, often centered around themes of honor, societal pressure, and the heartbreak of a love that blooms under false pretenses.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically starts with a high-stakes lie—a fake spouse, identity, or relationship—designed to solve an immediate problem. As the charade continues, the characters involved develop authentic feelings, leading to internal conflict and external pressure as the truth threatens to emerge. The journey is often bittersweet, exploring the pain of a genuine connection built on a fragile foundation.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a unique emotional core: the tension between a fabricated situation and the real emotions that grow within it. They blend humor from the absurdity of the ruse with the deep drama of developing love, often leading to a poignant or tragic conclusion when reality intrudes.

Tragic romance movies similar to Chithram

Emotional journeys where love is found, but a dark past or destiny ensures it cannot last.For viewers moved by the doomed love story in Chithram, this collection features movies where a radiant romance is tragically cut short by fate. These films explore the deep emotional impact of love found too late, often involving characters burdened by a dark past or a predetermined tragic ending, creating a powerfully melancholic experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character, often haunted by a secret or a grim destiny, who unexpectedly finds redemption and love. Just as they begin to believe in a future, the consequences of their past or an unavoidable fate catch up, shattering the newfound hope. The emotional arc is defined by the contrast between the warmth of the romance and the cold inevitability of the tragedy.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their exploration of doomed love, where the emotional power comes from the audience's awareness that the happiness is temporary. They share a bittersweet-to-sad tone, a steady pacing that allows the relationship to develop authentically, and a heavy emphasis on the themes of fate, sacrifice, and the pain of what could have been.

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Chithram Summary

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Chithram Summary

Chithram Timeline

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Chithram Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Chithram

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Chithram

More About Chithram

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