Monkey Man

In a tranquil forest village in India, a young boy known as Kid shares a close bond with his mother, Neela, who inspires him with tales of the legendary Hanuman. However, their peaceful existence is shattered when Baba Shakti, a ruthless spiritual leader from the nearby city of Yatana, employs the corrupt police chief, Rana, to evict the villagers and seize their land. Amidst the chaos, the village faces a brutal massacre, and in a desperate act to save her son, Neela hides Kid before she is killed and her body is set ablaze. Kid witnesses this horror, resulting in his hands becoming severely burned and scarred from his futile attempts to save her.

Years later, Kid has transformed his life, working in Yatana as a monkey-masked fighter at Tiger’s Temple, an underground boxing venue where losing is often part of the game. His heart harbors a burning desire for revenge against Baba, who has now climbed the political ladder, and Rana, who often visits Kings, a luxurious brothel managed by Queenie Kapoor. Kid cleverly infiltrates the establishment as a kitchen worker under the alias “Bobby,” befriending Alphonso, a gangster tied to Queenie. Through his cleverness, Kid aids Alphonso in winning a significant wager at Tiger’s Temple, thus earning a promotion to waiter which grants him access to the VIP floor.

As his plans unfold, Kid procures a gun and devises a unique scheme involving a stray dog trained to smuggle it past security. His attempt to take down Rana by serving him cocaine laced with bleach goes awry, leading to a tense escape where Kid fights his way out. Though he narrowly evades capture, a police shootout leaves him gravely injured, and he plunges into a river, only to be rescued by Alpha, the caretaker of Ardhanarishvara, a temple under threat from Baba’s political machinations.

Kid recuperates at the temple, where Alpha introduces him to a hallucinogenic journey that allows him to confront the trauma stemming from his mother’s death. This transformative experience ignites a newfound purpose within Kid, who soon begins to train in combat alongside the hijra community, committing himself to their cause. When the sanctuary of his newfound allies faces imminent danger, Kid returns to Tiger’s Temple, placing a massive bet on himself to secure victory.

During the festival of Diwali, Baba’s candidate assumes office, prompting a celebration at Kings. In a moment of daring, Kid dons a bleached version of his monkey mask, arming himself with makeshift weapons and storming the venue, accompanied by Alpha and her army. In a dramatic twist, Queenie tries to shoot Kid, but she meets her demise at the hands of Sita, one of the exploited women working at the brothel and a colleague of Kid.

With vengeance in his sights, Kid uses Queenie’s severed thumb to gain access to the penthouse, where he confronts Rana in a grueling fistfight, ultimately delivering justice by beating him to death. The stakes rise as Kid finally faces Baba, who inflicts wounds on him with hidden blades in his padukas. In a climactic battle, Kid uses the same blades against Baba, fulfilling his long-sought vengeance for his mother’s death. However, the victory is bittersweet; as Kid succumbs to his injuries, he reflects on memories of Neela and his devoted adoration for Hanuman.

Last Updated: October 24, 2024 at 08:44