Custody

Custody

Year: 2023

Runtime: 150 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: Venkat Prabhu

Echo Score: 43
ThrillerAction

A Venkat Prabhu Hunt Siva, a police officer, has to escort a witness to the court. He learns that all the police service wants to kill the witness. An escape begins.

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Timeline & Setting – Custody (2023)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Custody (2023). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1998

Set in 1998, the film unfolds against a late-1990s Indian backdrop of political corruption and organized crime. A police constable must produce a crucial informant in court within 48 hours, amid a web of conspiracies and high-stakes investigations. The period emphasizes bureaucratic hurdles, police-detective drama, and dramatic courtroom moments.

Location

Bangalore, Morampudi

The story shifts from Morampudi, the site of a devastating blast, to Bangalore, where the court case and investigation unfold. Morampudi is depicted as a hub of political crime and cover-ups, while Bangalore serves as the backdrop for the legal battle and power plays. The journey passes through key locations like a dam, a hospital, and a railway station, which become stages for chases and confrontations in the pursuit of justice.

📍 Bangalore 📍 Morampudi

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:11

Main Characters – Custody (2023)

Meet the key characters of Custody (2023), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

A. Shiva (Naga Chaitanya Akkineni)

A happy-go-lucky police constable who becomes a driven investigator. He blends courage with a strong sense of duty and is willing to risk himself to uncover the truth. He remains loyal to Revathi and to the idea of justice, even as the pursuit grows dangerous.

🧭 Duty 💪 Courage 🕵️ Investigation

Revathi (Krithi Shetty)

Shiva's girlfriend and a driving instructor who joins the risky mission. She shows courage and practical resolve, supporting Shiva through danger and travel from Morampudi to Bangalore. Her presence anchors Shiva emotionally as he confronts political corruption and personal loss.

💖 Partner 🛡️ Support 🧭 Brave

Dakshayani (Priyamani)

A powerful political figure behind the Morampudi blast and a key antagonist. She uses her influence to manipulate criminals and the system to protect herself, until the evidence and confessions threaten her hold. Her schemes drive the high-stakes pursuit across cities and courts.

🏛️ Power 💼 Politics 🔍 Corruption

Rajasekhar 'Raju' (Sampath Raj)

A dreaded gangster who becomes a crucial informant about Dakshayani's involvement. He sacrifices personal safety to reveal the truth, but is ultimately killed in the pursuit. His information is the turning point that helps Shiva push toward justice.

💣 Gangster 🧭 Informant 💥 Risk

Nataraj (IG) (R. Sarathkumar)

IG Nataraj is relentless and willing to bend the rules in the name of stopping the trio. He tracks Shiva, Raju, and George and escalates danger with his pursuit. His role tests moral lines and the cost of power.

⚔️ Authority 🕵️‍♂️ Pursuit 🧱 Power

Varghese (Jayaprakash)

Varghese is George's superior who coordinates operations and oversees the investigation. He balances procedure with the need to move the case forward, guiding the path from the court to the escape and back to safety. His decisions shape the tempo of the pursuit.

👔 Authority 🧭 Guidance 🗂️ Strategy

Phillips Satyaraj (Ramki)

Maj. Gen. Philips Satya Raj is a pivotal ally who helps Shiva and the group escape when they are cornered. He represents an external force of lawful intervention that can tilt the balance in critical moments. His involvement adds a glimmer of integrity within a tense political landscape.

🏛️ Ally 🚨 Intervention 🤝 Support

Ravi (Anand Ramaraju)

Ravi is Raju's brother, bribed by Dakshayani to eliminate Raju in exchange for taking his place. He attacks the trio at the railway, and his confrontation with Raju escalates the stakes. His actions highlight the reach of corruption and its brutal consequences.

🧭 Bribery ⚔️ Conflict 💥 Family ties

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:11

Major Themes – Custody (2023)

Explore the central themes of Custody (2023), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

Shiva's pursuit of truth confronts a corrupt system and political interference. The plot tests whether evidence and confession can prevail over power plays and cover-ups. The courtroom reveal and the resulting arrests anchor the message that justice can emerge from courage and perseverance.

🔍 Conspiracy

A bomb blast and a chain of criminal alliances reveal a web of conspiracy tied to political figures and enforcers. The informant's testimony becomes the fulcrum around which the investigation turns, while betrayals and obstacles intensify the pursuit of truth. The narrative builds tension as players maneuver through a maze of lies.

🕊️ Duty and Sacrifice

The story centers on the burden of duty carried by Shiva and his allies. A father's self-sacrifice and the risks they face underscore the personal costs of pursuing justice. The characters must weigh self-preservation against a larger moral objective, even as danger closes in.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:11

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Custody Summary

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Custody Summary

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Custody Timeline

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