Dora

Dora

Year: 2017

Runtime: 129 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: Dass Ramasamy

ThrillerHorror

A father and a daughter buy a used car which is possessed by an unknown spirit which yearns for revenge, and gives sleepless nights to a cop and a bunch of criminals.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Dora 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!

Dora (2017) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Dora (2017), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Pavalakkodi Nayanthara and her father, Vairakannu Thambi Ramaiah, share a simple life in a small house, built on years of hard work and mutual support. He is a devoted single father who raised his daughter with care, and she, in turn, looks after him as he grows older, never desiring marriage for herself. Their quiet happiness is interrupted when a brutal crime rocks the neighborhood: three thieves break into a nearby apartment, robbing a woman of her jewels, then raping and killing her. ACP Harish Harish Uthaman arrives to investigate, but the clues vanish as quickly as they appear—save for a forgotten Rajasthani blanket found at the scene, which leads nowhere and leaves the case unresolved.

The story widens its lens to focus on the father-daughter duo. Vairakannu hopes to visit their family deity’s temple in town, but requests a favour from Pavalakkodi’s aunt to borrow a car, only to be turned down. Her aunt’s husband even tries to strike him, prompting Pavalakkodi to stand up for herself and her father. She hints at a future ambition—one day starting a taxi startup to reach great heights. Driven by necessity and a shared dream, they pool their savings and buy a used Austin Cambridge, hoping the new vehicle will bring them closer to the life they imagine.

That night brings a mix of superstition and worry. Pavalakkodi wakes to strange noises around the car and finds nothing amiss, save for a stray cat in the shadows. The next morning, a withholding customer cheats Vairakannu, leaving him frustrated and short of trust. That same night, he is led to a graveyard and abandoned there, the car standing by as if waiting. When he returns home, his daughter comforts him, and she reiterates her willingness to marry someone who will stay and care for her father, a promise that foreshadows the evolving bond between duty and love. Then a sudden twist arrives in the form of a marriage proposal for Pavalakkodi from a man named Harish, though the officer declines to marry her. In a charged moment, she challenges him to find a woman more beautiful than her, should he find such a match.

The plot thickens when Pavalakkodi takes on a 20-day Tirupati trip assignment, hiring a driver to accompany the family. As the journey unfolds, the true culprit behind the earlier assault surfaces—the bedsheet seller from the earlier crime—but Harish pursues him with renewed vigor. The mystery deepens when the very car that once seemed ordinary begins to reveal extraordinary, unsettling powers. On the road, the driver loses control, and the vehicle appears to act with a will of its own, steering through danger and even targeting the criminal. The car’s eerie force becomes evident again when it returns to Pavalakkodi’s home, parking in the yard and wiping away bloodstains by itself, as if cleansing the evidence of a violent past. A local sorceress confirms what Pavalakkodi senses: the car is possessed by a dog’s ghost, a spectral presence trying to speak to its owner.

In search of answers, the car leads Pavalakkodi to an old villa and to its owner, an elderly man who recounts a poignant history. His granddaughter, Aarthi, had formed a deep bond with a stray dog named Dora. When a trio of men attacked Aarthi and her grandfather and stole their wealth, Aarthi’s death left Pavalakkodi with a blood clot in her heart, a blow that would forever tie their fates together. The shocking revelation follows: Aarthi had donated her heart to Pavalakkodi, and Dora’s ghost, bound to Dora’s memory, now possesses the car to ensure that Aarthi’s life lives on in the woman who bears her heart. Dora’s presence becomes a force of justice, guiding and protecting Pavalakkodi as she confronts the criminals who ruined Aarthi’s life and endangered her own.

From this haunting alliance, Pavalakkodi and Dora forge a path of retribution. The bond between the living woman and the spectral canine forces a reckoning with Mukesh Yadav, the principal villain behind the gang’s crimes. With Dora’s supernatural aid and Pavalakkodi’s courage, they confront Mukesh and the others, and a tense confrontation ensues where danger edges toward violence. In the climactic moments, Dora acts decisively, subduing the threats and ensuring Pavalakkodi’s safety as she faces the criminals head-on. The victory is grim but clear: the trio of criminals is defeated, and Pavalakkodi’s quest for vengeance—once sparked by violence and fear—reaches its end with her returning home, having protected her father and honored the memory of Aarthi and Dora.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:00

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

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 vengeful haunted objects like Dora

Stories where supernatural forces use everyday items to deliver grim justice.If the concept of a spirit-haunted car seeking justice in Dora captivated you, explore these movies where everyday objects become vessels for supernatural vengeance. This list features similar thrillers and horror films where cursed items drive the plot, delivering bleak justice and uncovering hidden crimes.

supernatural revengevengefultensemysterioushauntingoppressivejustice-driven

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves the discovery of a seemingly normal object that is secretly a conduit for a vengeful spirit. The new owners are often drawn into a dangerous investigation or confrontation, uncovering a past crime that the supernatural force is determined to avenge. The story unfolds as a tense cat-and-mouse game, with the object acting as both a protector and a predator.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared core concept of an inanimate object being the primary driver of supernatural revenge. They share a dark tone, high intensity from the pursuit of justice, and a focus on the intersection of the mundane and the paranormal to explore themes of grief and retribution.

Movies about grief and supernatural justice like Dora

Emotionally heavy tales where loss fuels a supernatural quest for retribution.If you were moved by the heavy themes of grief and loss powering the supernatural revenge in Dora, these movies offer similar experiences. Discover thrillers and horror films where emotional trauma fuels a paranormal pursuit of justice, resulting in bittersweet and emotionally impactful conclusions.

grief-strickenmelancholicvengefuloppressivebittersweetheavysupernatural

Narrative Summary

The journey begins with a foundational tragedy—often a murder or violent crime—that leaves a character or spirit consumed by grief. This emotional energy fuels a supernatural intervention, blurring the lines between a ghost story and a revenge thriller. The narrative explores the cost of this vengeance, often concluding with a sense of hollow victory where justice is served but the original loss remains painfully vivid.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their central theme of using supernatural means to process overwhelming grief and achieve justice. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark and melancholic tone, and a focus on the psychological impact of loss as a powerful narrative engine.

Unlock the Full Story of Dora

Don't stop at just watching — explore Dora in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Dora is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Dora Timeline

Track the full timeline of Dora with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Dora Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Dora

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Dora. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Dora

Dora Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Dora that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Dora Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Dora

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Dora: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Dora

Similar Movies to Dora

Discover movies like Dora that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.