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Timeline

Iraivan (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 152 mins · Tamil
Echo score 35
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Directed by
I. Mueenuddin Ahmed
Starring
Bagavathi Perumal, Rahul Bose, Nayanthara, Narain, Ashish Vidhyarthi, N. Azhagamperumal

Arjun, a hard‑nosed police officer, and his partner Andrew hunt a sadistic serial killer known as Bhramma, the Smiley Man. They capture him but Andrew is killed, prompting Arjun to quit the force. When Bhramma breaks out of prison and resumes his murders, Arjun is forced to confront his past.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Iraivan Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Iraivan (2023) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Arjun's reputation and personal life

    ACP Arjun is known for an unorthodox, lethal approach to neutralizing suspects. He also harbors affection for Priya, the sister of his friend Andrew. He hesitates to marry because his enemies from years of aggressive policing could retaliate.

    When
    Present-day
    Where
    City
  2. Assigned to the Smile-Killer case

    Arjun and Andrew are assigned to the brutal case of a psychopathic killer nicknamed the Smile-Killer, who leaves distinctive smiley notes and abducts young girls. The city sharpens with fear as the murders continue.

    When
    Start of investigation
    Where
    City
  3. Tragic death of Andrew

    Andrew confronts the killer and is killed in the line of duty, leaving Arjun devastated. This tragedy intensifies Arjun's resolve and distrust of the system he serves.

    When
    During investigation
    Where
    Crime scenes / City
  4. Arjun resigns and starts anew with Priya

    Haunted by the trauma, Arjun resigns from the police and withdraws from fieldwork. He and Priya launch a cafe, seeking a peaceful life away from crime.

    When
    After Andrew's death
    Where
    City
  5. A year later – Brahma's escape and deaths

    About a year passes and Brahma reportedly escapes from prison. Dr. Shanmugam, Brahma's caretaker, is found dead, and Swetha—his daughter—becomes the killer's next marked victim.

    When
    One year later
    Where
    Prison / City
  6. Death threat and escalating brutality

    Arjun receives a death threat letter that appears to come from Brahma. The Smile-Killer's rampage grows more brutal, and he starts sending video footage of the victims to families and the media, fueling public fear.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    City
  7. Shalu disappears; survivor's past resurfaces

    Shalu, the sole survivor of a previous encounter with Brahma, disappears again, prompting renewed police focus on the case. There is a belief that Brahma abducted her to complete his unfinished task.

    When
    Night
    Where
    City
  8. Discovery at the captivity site and twist about copycat

    Arjun locates the captivity site where Shalu is held—the same place Brahma was captured before. He confronts Brahma and learns that someone else has been using Brahma's name for the latest murders, though Brahma refuses to reveal the others.

    When
    Confrontation scene
    Where
    Old capture site
  9. Brahma slain by police; suspected copycat remains

    Police arrive and fatally shoot Brahma. The investigation continues as signs point to a copycat operating under Brahma's name.

    When
    Immediately after confrontation
    Where
    Old capture site
  10. Initial suspect – Babu

    Arjun suspects Babu, an assistant to Church Father Sebastian, as the copycat after signs point to him. However, evidence later implicates Arjun when the video of Shalu's captivity appears to be sent from his own location.

    When
    Following Brahma's death
    Where
    Babu's surroundings / city
  11. Arjun confronts Babu; confession about Shalu

    During the attempt to arrest Babu, Arjun uses his typical aggressive methods. The police intervene to save Babu, and Arjun confesses to kidnapping Shalu and sending the video to a TV channel to trap Brahma.

    When
    During arrest
    Where
    Babu's store / police precinct
  12. Public sentiment shifts; Babu's media exposure

    Public sentiment shifts as Babu goes to the media about his mistreatment by Arjun and the police. Meanwhile, Arjun uncovers more evidence at Babu's store linking him to the crimes.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Store / media
  13. Jasmine's call and Sophie abduction

    Jasmine, Andrew's widow, reveals that Babu has abducted her daughter Sophie and will share Sophie's location only if Arjun cooperates. Arjun agrees and prepares to meet Babu.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Phone call / Babu's location
  14. Hostage exchange and rescue

    A staged hostage exchange leads to Priya joining the scene. Arjun intervenes, incapacitates Babu, and saves both Priya and Sophie.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Babu's location / hostage scene
  15. Endgame and secret custody

    The police fake Babu's death and keep him in secret custody to avoid public backlash. The film ends with Arjun and Priya contemplating how to deal with Babu in private.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Police facility

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:23

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Timeline questions answered

Iraivan Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Iraivan (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Arjun resign from the police force after Andrew's death?

Arjun quit the police force because he was devastated and traumatized by Andrew's death during the Smile-Killer investigation. The tragic loss of his colleague and friend, combined with his distrust of the system he served, led him to leave law enforcement entirely and seek a peaceful life running a cafe with Priya.

Foreshadowing: The movie establishes early on that Arjun uses unorthodox, lethal methods, suggesting he was already emotionally strained by the violence of his job.

  • arjun resigns
  • andrew death
  • police force
  • trauma
  • smile killer case
Q2

How did Brahma escape from prison and resume his killings?

Brahma reportedly escaped from prison, though the exact method of his escape is not detailed in the summary. After escaping, he resumed his serial killings by targeting Dr. Shanmugam's daughter Swetha and continuing his pattern of abducting young girls, while sending graphic videos of the murders to families and media.

  • brahma escapes
  • prison break
  • smile killer
  • resume killings
Q3

Who is the copycat killer in Iraivan?

Babu, the assistant to Church Father Sebastian, is revealed as the copycat killer who has been using Brahma's name for the recent murders. After Brahma is killed by police, Babu continues the killing spree, abducting Sophie (Andrew's daughter) and orchestrating a hostage exchange. The police ultimately fake his death to keep him in secret custody.

Foreshadowing: Early in the investigation, Babu is introduced as a suspect and Arjun notices suspicious behavior around him.

  • copycat killer
  • babu
  • church father sebastian
  • impersonator
Q4

Why did Arjun kidnap Shalu in the movie?

Arjun kidnapped Shalu and sent the video of her captivity to a TV channel as part of a trap to lure out Brahma. He knew that Brahma considered Shalu a willing partner rather than a victim due to her unusual response to his torture during a previous encounter. By framing it as a broadcast, Arjun hoped to provoke Brahma into revealing himself.

Foreshadowing: The investigation reveals that Shalu was the only survivor of Brahma's previous attacks, and her nymphomaniac tendencies created an unusual dynamic.

  • arjun kidnaps shalu
  • trap brahma
  • video sent
  • shalu captivity
Q5

What happened to Babu at the end of Iraivan?

At the end of the movie, the police faked Babu's death to avoid public backlash since Babu had manipulated media sentiment in his favor. They kept him in secret custody, and the film ends with Arjun and Priya being left alone in the room with Babu,暗示ing they will deal with him privately as a form of extrajudicial justice.

  • babu fate
  • fake death
  • secret custody
  • ending
  • justice
Q6

Why was Arjun framed as sending the video from his location?

Evidence was manipulated to implicate Arjun when the video of Shalu's captivity appeared to be sent from his location. This was part of the copycat killer's scheme to frame Arjun and deflect suspicion away from himself, making Arjun appear guilty of the very crimes he was investigating.

  • arjun framed
  • video location
  • evidence
  • copycat setup
Q7

What was the twist about Shalu's relationship with Brahma?

During investigations, it is revealed that Brahma views Shalu differently from his other victims. When Brahma previously abducted her, Shalu's response to his torture was arousal rather than fear, which frustrated Brahma because he derives satisfaction from victims' panic. This leads Arjun to realize Brahma might not intend to kill Shalu, seeing her as a willing participant instead.

Foreshadowing: Shalu being the sole survivor of Brahma's attacks already hints at an unusual connection.

  • shalu brahma relationship
  • nymphomaniac
  • survivor
  • torture response
Q8

Why did Jasmine try to commit suicide in the movie?

Jasmine, Andrew's widow, attempted to take her own life as part of Babu's demands. Babu had abducted her daughter Sophie and used her as leverage against Arjun. The specific details of Babu's demands led Jasmine to a desperate act, though Arjun ultimately rescued Sophie during the hostage exchange.

  • jasmine suicide attempt
  • sophie abduction
  • babu demands
  • hostage situation
Q9

Why did the real Brahma refuse to reveal the copycat's identity?

When Arjun confronts Brahma at the captivity site, Brahma admits that someone else has been using his name for the recent murders but refuses to reveal the other person's identity. Brahma's refusal appears to be a deliberate choice to maintain his legacy and allow the killings to continue even after his death, displaying his narcissistic and sadistic nature.

  • brahma refuses
  • copycat identity
  • confrontation
  • legacy
Q10

What is the significance of the smiley-face notes left at crime scenes?

The smiley-face notes are the signature of the serial killer nicknamed the Smile-Killer or Bhramma. The killer leaves these distinctive notes near crime scenes as part of his psychological terror campaign, creating a macabre signature that strikes fear into the city and becomes central to the police investigation.

Foreshadowing: The movie opens with the city being gripped by fear due to these distinctive notes.

  • smiley notes
  • crime scenes
  • signature
  • smile killer

Movie threads

More Movies Like Iraivan, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Iraivan tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Dark Cat-and-Mouse Thrillers Like Iraivan

Intense stories where the lines between pursuer and prey become dangerously blurred. If you liked the high-stakes chase in Iraivan, you'll find more movies with similar relentless tension. These stories feature a dangerous game between a protagonist and a sinister foe, where the pursuit takes a heavy psychological toll and the path to justice is paved with moral grey areas.

  • tense
  • suspense
  • ruthless
  • gripping
  • anxious
  • brutal
  • Tone: dark, tense, brutal
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread follow a tense, escalating pursuit structure. A capable but often flawed protagonist is pitted against a formidable antagonist, leading to a series of confrontations that test their resolve and morality. The story frequently explores the psychological toll of the hunt, blurring the lines between justice and vengeance.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared high-intensity, dark tone, and the central dynamic of a fraught, obsessive pursuit. They deliver a gripping, often brutal experience focused on the psychological duel between two opposing forces.

Movies About Trauma and Vengeance Like Iraivan

Stories where the quest for vengeance leaves deep, unhealed psychological scars. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and traumatic revenge arc in Iraivan, this list features similar movies. These films explore the psychological damage inflicted by violence and the morally ambiguous, often hollow, path of vengeance that follows.

  • traumatic
  • revenge-driven
  • dark
  • gripping
  • psychological
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, traumatic, bitter
  • Pacing: fast, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist suffering a significant traumatic event, which fuels a single-minded drive for revenge. Their journey is marked by moral compromises, personal sacrifice, and psychological deterioration. The conclusion rarely offers clean resolution, instead highlighting the cyclical nature of violence and the lasting impact of trauma.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their exploration of trauma as a narrative engine and their focus on the destructive, morally complex nature of vengeance. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and often a bittersweet or bleak ending feel.

Every angle

Iraivan (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Iraivan in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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