Nibunan

Nibunan

Year: 2017

Runtime: 137 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: Arun Vaidyanathan

ThrillerCrimeAction

A seasoned police officer and his small team find themselves hunting a serial killer whose actions are deeply unsettling. When they discover the identity of the killer's next target, the officer races to track down the assassin, piecing together clues to prevent further violence and bring the perpetrator to justice.

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Timeline & Setting – Nibunan (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Nibunan (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Tamil Nadu, India

Nibunan unfolds in a metropolitan Indian setting in Tamil Nadu where a CB-CID DSP and his team chase high-profile criminals. The city features a bustling police hub, warehouses, and affluent households, blending professional policing with a tense social atmosphere. The investigation shifts from a quiet family life to a deadly serial-killer mystery, linking present crimes to a past case.

🌆 Tamil Nadu India 🕵️ Police procedural 🎭 Crime thriller

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:43

Main Characters – Nibunan (2017)

Meet the key characters of Nibunan (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ranjith Kalidoss (Arjun Sarja)

A CB-CID DSP known for his sharp deductive mind and unwavering commitment to justice. He battles Parkinson's disease while juggling a peaceful home life with his wife Shilpa and daughter Oviya. He connects the present murders to a case from years past and orchestrates a controversial plan to eliminate five criminals and pin the killer’s crimes on someone else.

🎯 Determined 🧠 Analytical 🧭 Strategic

Joseph (Prasanna)

A CB-CID inspector who works closely with Ranjith and Vandana. He is diligent, principled, and fearless, digging for connections even when investigations get dangerous. He and Vandana become central to exposing how past cases tie into the current killings.

🔎 Investigator 🤝 Loyal 🧠 Thorough

Vandana (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar)

A capable CB-CID inspector who collaborates with Ranjith to solve the murders. She shows resilience under pressure, supports the investigation, and helps pursue leads that connect the present crimes to the earlier case.

🕵️ Detective 🤝 Team player 💪 Fearless

Shilpa (Sruthi Hariharan)

Ranjith’s wife, a steady presence who keeps the family grounded as the case intensifies. She provides emotional support and navigates the fear of a killer targeting their circle while the police chase leads.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family 💪 Supportive 🧭 Courageous

Sandeep (Vaibhav)

Ranjith’s younger brother who shares a close bond with him and stands by the family during the perilous investigation. He contributes to the emotional core and underlines the stakes of keeping the peace at home.

👨‍👦 Family 🤝 Loyal 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Supportive

Emmanuel (Suman Talwar)

A wealthy architect and the father of Catherine. Behind a polished public persona, he and his wife are revealed to have murdered Mariadas after discovering Catherine’s puberty, driven by guilt and fear of exposure.

💼 Wealth ⚖️ Guilt 🔒 Secrets

Catherine (16-year-old)

The daughter of Emmanuel and his wife, whose puberty and the family’s secret contribute to the tragic backstory. Her death is central to the past case and motivates the killers’ actions.

💔 Family tragedy 🛡️ Innocence

Christopher (Krishna Kulasekaran)

Emmanuel’s nephew who arrives in India and becomes entwined in the killer’s plan. He is suspected as the killer’s motive and the one who exacerbates the deadly chain of events.

🧠 Intelligent 🧬 Knowledgeable 🗡️ Vengeful

Sivanandam (Poster Nandakumar)

A local communist leader whose disappearance and death trigger the reopening of the case and influence the investigation’s political dimension.

🏛️ Political 🗡️ Violent

Dr. Ramya (Uma Riyaz Khan)

A pathologist who performs Catherine’s autopsy and plays a pivotal role in presenting forensic findings during the investigation and court proceedings.

🩺 Forensic 🧪 Medical

Dr. Prema (Sudharani)

A doctor involved in the investigation, contributing to the medical and forensic context surrounding the crimes.

🩺 Medical 🧠 Forensic

Mrs Emmanuel (Suhasini Maniratnam)

Emmanuel’s wife, a central figure in the past tragedy that revealed the couple’s crime and guilt, ultimately ending in their joint decision to hang themselves.

💑 Family ⚖️ Guilt

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:43

Major Themes – Nibunan (2017)

Explore the central themes of Nibunan (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Justice vs. Vengeance

Ranjith's pursuit of justice collides with a willingness to bend the law. He borrows moral lines to orchestrate the elimination of five criminals and frame the serial killer, highlighting the ethical ambiguities at the edge of vigilante action. The plot tests whether ends justify means when personal duty and public safety collide.

🧩 Mystery & Clues

A doll with a noose, a series of taunting murders, and a past case resurfacing drive the investigation. Clues unfold through forensics, alibis, and a calculated suspect list, revealing how past secrets haunt current crimes. The killer’s method—custom anesthesia—adds a cold, clinical edge to the mystery.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Duty

Ranjith’s family life is both his anchor and a pressure point as Parkinson’s slows him down. The murders ripple through his loved ones, testing loyalty and trust. The narrative juxtaposes the warmth of family with the cold resolve of the killer and officials who manipulate justice.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:43

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