Ism

Ism

Year: 2016

Runtime: 130 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: Puri Jagannadh

ActionThrillerCrime

An undercover journalist finds himself hunted by corrupt politicians and the gangster whose daughter he betrayed in order to obtain evidence against him.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Ism 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!

Timeline – Ism (2016)

Trace every key event in Ism (2016) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Javed Bhai hides with his gang and daughter Alia on Tenerife

Javed Ibrahim is a high-profile gangster living in hiding on Tenerife along with his gang and his daughter Alia after several scams are exposed in India. He maintains a tight security network and keeps Alia close, using the island as a base of operations. The tension between criminal ambition and family loyalty threads through their days.

Present Tenerife
2

Kalyan Ram spots Alia at an illegal fight club and falls in love

Kalyan Ram witnesses Alia during a fight at an illegal club and immediately falls for her. He conceals his identity while befriending Javed Bhai after offering him Karim Beedis. The attraction unsettles the unspoken rules of Javed's operation.

Present Tenerife
3

Don Bosco engineers Alia's engagement to the Prince of Persia

With Don Bosco's help, Alia becomes engaged to the Prince of Persia, a move designed to bind her to a powerful match while the real identities remain hidden. Javed Bhai's control over the arrangement deepens the covert web surrounding Alia. The engagement solidifies deceit as a tool of power.

Present Tenerife
4

Javed Bhai helps Kalyan woo a girl, unaware she's Alia

Javed Bhai covertly coaches Kalyan to win the girl he fancies, unaware that the girl is actually his daughter Alia. The irony strains the growing trust between them as a personal bond forms in the shadow of crime. The mistake seeds future conflicts.

Present Tenerife
5

Alia falls for Kalyan and tells Javed

Alia gradually falls for Kalyan Ram and decides to tell Javed Bhai about her feelings. Javed senses trouble and tries to destabilize their relationship by accusing Kalyan of cheating. When Kalyan finally spots them together, he bolts and jumps into the sea.

Present Tenerife
6

Grand Leakage reveals Javed Bhai's true connections; founder is Kalyan Ram

Back in India, the Grand Leakage Company exposes Javed Bhai's whereabouts and shocks everyone by revealing that its founder is actually Kalyan Ram. The revelation makes Alia realize the man she loves is linked to the source of the leaks. Loyalties fracture as truth breaks through the disguise.

Weeks later India
7

Alia returns to India and pursues Sathya's identity

Alia lands in India and tracks Sathya's address, threatening to harm his parents and herself if he doesn't come back. Her return triggers a confrontation between love and justice as Sathya's mission unfolds. The emotional pull tests both their motives.

Shortly after item 6 India
8

Sathya Marthand's past: journalist against corruption

Sathya Marthand is an undercover journalist whose father Dasaradh Rao suffered at the hands of a corrupt contractor after exposing faulty cement. He chooses a path to fight corruption rather than revenge, shaping his code of ethics for the battle ahead. This backstory explains his resolve when he re-enters the fight.

Past (backstory) India
9

Sathya targets Bank of Paradise in Tenerife

Sathya learns of Bank of Paradise, a Tenerife-based bank controlled by Javed Bhai that holds a fortune for the poor. The Grand Leakage operation channels thousands of journalism students to challenge corruption, and Sathya plans to destabilize the bank from within. The bank becomes the focal point of his crusade.

Present Tenerife
10

Sathya is captured; goons murder his four friends; court trial begins

Sathya and his four allies are captured during a high-stakes operation, and local goons brutally kill his friends. He then experiences a powerful courtroom performance that wins public sympathy for his justice-seeking mission. In court, he reveals the bank’s codes and sets the stage for a public hack.

Present India
11

Hacktivists redistribute Bank of Paradise funds; call for donating to farmers

Sathya's hacktivist network siphons money from Bank of Paradise and divides it among above-poverty Indian citizens, urging them to donate 10% to below-poverty farmers. This act shines a spotlight on corruption and inspires public action against the crooked system. The redistribution becomes a catalyst for social reform.

Present India
12

Final clash and denouement: kidnapping, betrayal, and Goa

On the way to the Central Jail, Sathya is kidnapped by Javed Bhai's men and pressured to marry Alia, while Minister Kotilinga is revealed to be part of Javed's scams. Sathya and Javed fight off the remaining goons, exposing the conspiracy. The film ends with Javed returning to Tenerife while Alia and Sathya go to Goa to continue undercover.

En route to jail / Final India / Goa

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:00

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Undercover Thrillers with High Stakes like Ism

Protagonists living a lie, where every move could mean exposure and death.If you liked the tense undercover mission in 'Ism', you'll find similar movies here. These thrillers feature protagonists embedded in dangerous worlds, where their fabricated identities are constantly tested, leading to high-risk confrontations and heavy moral dilemmas. Discover more films about deep cover operations and the personal cost of deception.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows an individual who must assume a false identity to infiltrate a powerful, dangerous organization. The central conflict arises from the deepening personal connections they form, which jeopardize the mission and their own safety. The plot is driven by a series of close calls, betrayals, and the psychological toll of maintaining the deception under extreme pressure.

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These films are grouped by their shared focus on the intense psychological and physical danger of undercover work. They create a specific, claustrophobic tension where the protagonist is isolated and constantly vulnerable, leading to narratives with high intensity, fast pacing, and a heavy emotional weight centered on betrayal and sacrifice.

Crime Thrillers with Bittersweet Endings like Ism

Stories where exposing corruption comes at a devastating personal price.For viewers who appreciated the complex, costly victory in 'Ism', this list features similar crime stories. These movies involve exposing corruption or taking down criminals, but the conclusion is bittersweet—the main threat may be neutralized, yet the larger system remains, and the heroes are scarred by their journey. Find more films where the fight for justice leaves deep wounds.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative arc involves a protagonist challenging a deeply entrenched corrupt entity, such as a political machine or crime syndicate. While they may succeed in their immediate objective, the resolution is incomplete; the villain might escape true justice, or the systemic problem persists. The ending emphasizes the heavy cost of the struggle, often leaving the characters to continue their fight from a compromised position.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects movies that share a specific emotional and narrative payoff: a victory that feels hollow or incomplete. The shared experience is one of heavy emotional weight, where the audience is left contemplating the immense sacrifice required for even a small measure of justice, creating a thoughtful and sobering conclusion.

Unlock the Full Story of Ism

Don't stop at just watching — explore Ism 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 Ism is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Ism Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Ism, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Ism Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Ism

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Ism

Ism Spoiler-Free Summary

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Ism Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Ism

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