Year: 1982
Runtime: 138 mins
Language: Tamil
Director: S. P. Muthuraman
Ramesh takes a job at a businessman’s factory with the intent of rooting out irregularities and corruption. Shortly after, personal circumstances force his dismissal. When the industrialist suddenly dies, Ramesh is unjustly framed for the murder, leaving him to fight the false accusation and clear his name.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Pokkiri Raja (1982), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Ramesh Y. G. Mahendran is the manager at the office of Paranthaman, a shrewd industrialist who suspects that his relatives are siphoning off his wealth. Ramesh takes a firm, almost watchful stance over the operations of the business, tightening controls and keeping a close eye on every move. His vigilance earns him the ire of Paranthaman’s relatives, Venkatachalam and Chandran, who feel boxed in by his strong hand and relentless discipline.
Amid the tense family dynamic, Ramesh crosses paths with Vanaja, Paranthaman’s daughter, and their initially rocky relationship gradually blossoms into something warmer. Vanaja’s presence softens the edges of Ramesh’s hard-edged professional life, but Paranthaman’s happiness is short-lived. He becomes convinced that Ramesh is cheating on his daughter, and this perceived betrayal prompts him to fire Ramesh on the very day their relationship seems to be shifting toward something more serious.
That night, Paranthaman is murdered, and Vanaja is the one who later witnesses Ramesh in her home, which leads to a dramatic turn of events. In court, Vanaja’s testimony, which is later revealed to have been coerced under threat, condemns Ramesh as the killer. He finds himself jailed, believing that the truth will come to light once safeguards against coercion are recognized. A month into his sentence, Ramesh encounters Raja, a petty thief who is slated to be released soon and who bears an uncanny resemblance to him. This lookalike, played by a different life, offers a path to expose the real culprits.
Raja, a man who has also fallen through the cracks of the legal system, agrees to help. With Raja’s permission, Ramesh masquerades as Raja for three days, leveraging the ruse to uncover the truth that lies behind the murder case. The deception complicates every relationship around Paranthaman’s business, especially when Venkatachalam targets the imposter for arrest after discovering a burglary attempt on Paranthaman’s property. The complication intensifies when Raja’s lover, Rakkayi, identifies him as Raja, saving him from immediate capture and transporting him into a different circle of danger and opportunity.
Venkatachalam, unaware that he is dealing with Ramesh’s double, uses the moment to probe Vanaja’s upcoming marriage to Chandran, Paranthaman’s son. In a sequence of high-stakes moves, Ramesh uses the ruse to protect Vanaja, hiding her at his mother’s house and explaining the misidentification to her, while Vanaja begins to see the truth behind the tangled web of deceit. In time, Ramesh takes a decisive step to protect Vanaja by marrying her at his mother’s request, a consummation that ties him to the family beyond the immediate crisis.
After three days, the plan reaches a critical point: Ramesh returns to prison, and the switch with Raja is completed, allowing Raja to live free while Ramesh briefly steps back into his prior life. Raja, now free and reunited with Rakkayi, shares with her the revelations about Ramesh’s sacrifice and the double life he chose to lead in order to safeguard the truth. Vanaja’s faith in him is tempered by the complexities of his choices, but her relationship with Ramesh endures as they navigate the consequences of their actions.
With the immediate threat contained, Paranthaman’s murder finally comes under clear scrutiny. Chandran and Venkatachalam are revealed to be the principal culprits, and Raja records the entire confession on tape. The confrontation spills into the courtroom as Ramesh and Raja confront the pair and their criminal network, subduing the thugs who stand in their way. The incriminating tape is played in court, catching the killers in their lies and securing their arrest.
In the aftermath, Ramesh’s release is secured through Vanaja’s support, closing a chapter marked by suspicion, mistaken identity, and perilous deception. The narrative culminates in a courtroom victory that serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance and justice, even when the path to truth is tangled with lies and identities that aren’t what they seem.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:57
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An ordinary person fights to clear their name after being set up for a crime.If you enjoyed the high-stakes fight for justice in Pokkiri Raja, you'll find similar tension in these movies about characters framed for a crime. This thread gathers suspenseful stories of wrongful accusations, determined investigations, and the ultimate triumph of clearing one's name against all odds.
The narrative typically begins with an inciting incident—often a murder or major crime—for which the innocent protagonist is framed. The bulk of the story is a procedural investigation, either by the protagonist or a sympathetic ally, involving clues, betrayals, and courtroom drama, culminating in a final confrontation that exposes the true conspirators.
Movies in this thread share a core structure of an unjust setup and a relentless pursuit of truth. They create a specific, gripping vibe defined by high personal stakes, a constant threat of danger, and the emotional catharsis of vindication, making them compelling for viewers who enjoy investigative puzzles and moral victories.
A lone investigator uncovers deep-seated corruption within a powerful organization.Fans of Pokkiri Raja's plot about exposing corruption within a business will appreciate these steady-paced investigative thrillers. Discover movies that follow a similar pattern of an individual uncovering a web of deceit in a powerful organization, leading to high-tension confrontations and a race for evidence.
The narrative follows a linear investigation, starting with a suspicion of wrongdoing within a company or institution. The protagonist gathers evidence, faces threats and obstacles from the powerful antagonists, and navigates a web of lies, often leading to a life-threatening situation before justice is served.
These films are grouped by their shared setting of institutional corruption and the specific pacing of a steady, clue-driven investigation. They deliver a consistent mood of paranoia and intellectual challenge, appealing to viewers who enjoy seeing a complex puzzle being solved against formidable opposition.
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