Duet

Duet

Year: 1994

Runtime: 156 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: K. Balachander

ComedyDramaFamily

Two musical brothers look for love, only to have their quest end in tragedy for one.

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Duet (1994) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Duet (1994), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Across a bridge that spans the sea, the saxophone melody that floats from Guna drifts over the water, pulling him back to a tragedy that shadowed his life two years ago. [Guna] and Siva are brothers who run a popular orchestra, their performances drawing large crowds and earning them admiration. They share a deep bond and both are eager to find love, yet their paths diverge: the girl who loves Siva returns his feelings, while the woman who loves [Guna] insults him for being fat, wounding his pride.

To steady his brother, [Guna] moves to the city with [Siva] and his sister Seema. The home they leave behind is touched by a difficult past: [Guna]’s father had an illicit affair with Sitamma, and on his deathbed he asks [Guna] to make Sitamma part of the family. Sitamma agrees to come, but only on the condition that no one in the clan knows their real relationship and that she be introduced as a cook. Reluctantly, [Guna] accepts, trusting that love and music will guide them through.

Music becomes the lifeblood of the brothers. [Guna] works as a saxophonist, music director, and lyricist, while [Siva] lends his voice as a singer, and together they carve out a flourishing artistic path. Their fame, however, does not shield them from heartache or insecurity. The world outside their door introduces the next chapter: the house next to theirs belongs to the film choreographer Anjali, Anjali. Both brothers are drawn to her, but in different ways. [Siva] approaches Anjali directly and wins her affection, while [Guna] is moved by the haunting sound of the saxophone and the idea of her, which leads to a complex misunderstanding—Anjali believes the music is coming from Siva, and she grows attracted to him.

Amid this tangle, film superstar Sirpy, [Prakash Raj], also sets his sights on Anjali and grows dangerously close, stirring possessiveness and competition. This strain unsettles the brothers and stirs old resentments. Sitamma, sensing the brewing trouble, becomes entangled in the family’s affairs and tries to steer them toward harmony, but tragedy strikes when Sirpy provokes a clash that leads to Sitamma’s death. The conflict escalates as Sirpy kidnaps Anjali, pressing her to marry him.

Siva refuses to tolerate anyone standing between his brother and the woman he loves, and the brothers’ tension comes to a head. [Guna] fights to rescue Anjali, while Sirpy’s threats culminate on a hill where the fates of two lives collide: Siva pulls Sirpy, and both tumble from the summit, leaving Siva dead beside the man he had once despised.

Back in the present, the day marks the anniversary of Siva’s death at the same hill where [Guna] now plays his saxophone in memory. Anjali’s father confronts [Guna], pressing him to marry Anjali or face dire consequences for her sake. The burden of choice weighs heavily, but in the end, [Guna] and Anjali come together, choosing love and resilience over fear, and the brothers’ music endures as a quiet testament to their bond and the sacrifices that defined their lives.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:25

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