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Timeline

Pulimurugan (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 161 mins · Malayalam
Directed by
Vysakh
Starring
Siddique, Makrand Deshpande, Mohanlal, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Lal, Jagapati Babu

Murugan, a skilled hunter, safeguards the village of Puliyoor from dangerous tiger attacks using his expertise and specialized tools. His life takes a dramatic turn when Daddy, a ruthless drug dealer, exploits Murugan's trusting nature and falsely accuses him of a crime. Facing unjust accusations, Murugan must fight to clear his name and protect his community.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (14)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

14 events in order · contains spoilers

Pulimurugan Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Pulimurugan (2016) 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. Childhood tragedy and vow

    As a boy in Puliyoor, Murugan endures his mother's death soon after his brother Manikuttan is born, and then his father is killed by a tiger. The trauma binds him to the forest and the tiger that haunts his village. With the help of his uncle Lal, he traps and kills that tiger, setting the first mark of his hunting prowess.

    When
    childhood
    Where
    Puliyoor
  2. Pulimurugan becomes village guardian

    Years later Murugan has become a truck driver, living with his wife Myna and daughter Chakki. He continues to hunt rogue tigers that intrude on Puliyoor, earning the villagers' respect and the nickname Pulimurugan. His protective stance toward Manikuttan remains a central part of his life.

    When
    present
    Where
    Puliyoor
  3. Hooded stranger seeks a hunting assignment

    Kadutha, the village chief, meets a hooded stranger who asks about Murugan for a dangerous hunting assignment. Murugan has been away from Puliyoor recently, and the tigers claim more lives in his absence. The encounter foreshadows a larger forest-wide conspiracy.

    When
    present
    Where
    Puliyoor
  4. Ganja deal linked to Manikuttan's future

    Manikuttan's friends Benny and Shiva arrive in the village to see Balaraman, drawn into a scheme involving Daddy Girija's pharmaceutical pursuits and a cancer drug. They strike a deal with the illegal ganja dealer Ramaiya, hoping it will fund Manikuttan's job offer. On their return, they encounter a tiger, and Murugan saves them by killing it.

    When
    midpoint
    Where
    Forest edge near Puliyoor
  5. Tiger carcass found; investigation begins

    Manikuttan returns home after his final exams. Forest officials uncover the dead tiger carcass at Thookupara, violating the Wildlife Protection Act. Forest ranger R. K is assigned to investigate and carries a four-year-old grudge against Murugan, stemming from a previous incident where Murugan thwarted a molestation attempt on Myna.

    When
    after exams
    Where
    Thookupara
  6. FIR threat and Murugan goes into hiding

    Seizing the moment, R. K plans to file an FIR against Murugan, forcing him to go into hiding. DSP Iyep Zachariah arrives in Puliyoor, seemingly tasked with Murugan's case. The ganja remains loaded in Murugan's lorry, raising the stakes of the pursuit.

    When
    imminent
    Where
    Puliyoor
  7. Shipment plan desperation; sanctuary and deceit

    Shiva and Benny learn that a Ramaiya confidant is in police custody, and fearing exposure they decide to move the shipment overnight. Shiva offers Murugan sanctuary in Kasaragod under Daddy's protection, claiming the police are on his trail for tiger killings. Murugan is lured into a safer route that hides a dangerous conspiracy.

    When
    night
    Where
    Kasaragod
  8. Escape to Mangalore with ganja; job secured

    A team led by Zachariya comes to Murugan's home, but the family slips away to Mangalore with the ganja. They deliver the contraband and, in the process, secure Manikuttan's job in the company. Murugan also begins to earn Daddy's trust through his role in the illicit network.

    When
    night
    Where
    Mangalore
  9. Shadows deepen; Murugan aids Daddy's empire

    As Murugan helps Daddy’s illicit business, Puliyoor experiences a renewed wave of tiger attacks. The line between protector and accomplice blurs as Murugan's loyalty is tested. The forest becomes a battleground between wildlife and a criminal empire.

    When
    late period
    Where
    Puliyoor
  10. Confrontation reveals Daddy's drug operation

    In a tense confrontation with Zachariya, Murugan learns that Daddy is secretly producing hash oil and exporting it under the pharmacy’s cover where Manikuttan works. Manikuttan cooperates with the police to bring Daddy down, but Shiva tortures him when they try to extract evidence. Murugan resolves to protect his family at all costs.

    When
    confrontation
    Where
    Puliyoor
  11. Murugan rescues Manikuttan; Shiva is killed

    Murugan rescues Manikuttan from danger after Shiva's coercion, and in the struggle Shiva is killed accidentally. The police ambush Daddy, but he escapes again, leaving the criminal network intact for a final confrontation. Murugan deepens his resolve to end Daddy's reign.

    When
    aftermath
    Where
    Puliyoor
  12. Daddy revealed; a vengeful figure returns

    The hooded stranger is revealed to be Daddy, seeking revenge for Shiva's death. He gathers a band of assassins and ambushes Balaraman and Poongayi Sasi, taking Balaraman prisoner and leaving Sasi badly wounded. Murugan vows to end Daddy's reign once and for all.

    When
    reveal
    Where
    Puliyoor
  13. Final battle and Daddy's downfall

    Murugan returns home with resolve and faces a brutal battle against Daddy’s assassins. He defeats them, but the final showdown is with Daddy himself. The clash culminates in Murugan rescuing Balaraman from a tiger’s den and escaping as the tiger claims Daddy.

    When
    final battle
    Where
    Puliyoor/forest edge
  14. Ending note: guardian and quarry

    With Daddy dead at the jaws of a tiger, Murugan stands tall as Puliyoor’s protector. He saves his ally and leaves the forest with a hard-won sense of balance between guardian and quarry. The story closes on the note that guardianship comes with perpetual vigilance.

    When
    epilogue
    Where
    Puliyoor

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:46

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Timeline questions answered

Pulimurugan Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Pulimurugan (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Forest Ranger R.K. target Murugan?

R.K. holds a personal grudge against Murugan stemming from four years earlier when Murugan rescued Myna from a molestation attempt, thwarting R.K.'s plans. When the dead tiger carcass is discovered at Thookupara, R.K. exploits this opportunity to file a false FIR against Murugan, forcing him into hiding.

  • r.k forest ranger
  • molestation
  • fir
  • false accusation
Q2

How does Murugan get roped into Daddy's illegal business?

Shiva tricks Murugan by claiming the police are hunting him for the tiger killings. He offers Murugan sanctuary in Kasaragod under Daddy's protection. Believing the police are after him, Murugan agrees to transport the ganja shipment to Mangalore, unknowingly becoming entangled in Daddy's criminal network.

  • ganja shipment
  • kasaragod
  • deception
  • mangalore
Q3

Why does Murugan agree to transport the ganja?

Murugan is deceived by Shiva and Benny, who tell him that the police are pursuing him for the illegal tiger killing. Trusting Shiva as his brother's friend, Murugan agrees to help move the shipment overnight to protect himself and his family, not realizing he is being used in the illegal operation.

  • shiva
  • benny
  • illegal shipment
  • police chase
Q4

Who is the hooded stranger seeking Murugan at the beginning?

The hooded stranger is revealed to be Daddy Girija himself. He approaches Kadutha asking about Murugan for a hunting assignment, foreshadowing his deeper involvement in the conspiracy that unfolds later in the film.

Foreshadowing: The hooded stranger appears in the opening scenes inquiring about Murugan's hunting skills.

  • hooded stranger
  • daddy girija
  • conspiracy
  • hunting
Q5

How does Manikuttan get involved in the criminal operation?

Manikuttan is offered a job in Daddy Girija's pharmaceutical company as part of the deal for the ganja shipment. Unbeknownst to him, the company serves as a front for producing and exporting hash oil illegally. Manikuttan later cooperates with the police to bring Daddy down once he discovers the truth.

  • manikuttan
  • pharmaceutical company
  • hash oil
  • job offer
Q6

How does Shiva die in the confrontation?

Shiva is killed accidentally during a struggle with Murugan. When Manikuttan tries to gather evidence against Daddy, Shiva tortures him to prevent cooperation with police. Murugan arrives to rescue Manikuttan, and in the fight that follows, Shiva is accidentally killed.

  • shiva death
  • manikuttan torture
  • accidental kill
Q7

Why does Daddy seek revenge against Murugan?

Daddy wants revenge because Shiva, his associate and the son of his partner, was killed during the confrontation with Murugan. This personal loss drives Daddy to orchestrate a larger scheme to eliminate Murugan and those close to him.

  • daddy revenge
  • shiva death
  • vengeance
  • assassination
Q8

How does Daddy die at the end?

In the final battle, Murugan rescues Balaraman from a tiger's den where Daddy had trapped him. During the confrontation, the tiger attacks and kills Daddy while Murugan manages to escape with Balaraman, bringing Daddy's reign of terror to an end.

  • tiger attack
  • final battle
  • balaraman rescue
  • daddy death
Q9

What leads Murugan to turn against Daddy?

Murugan learns from DSP Zachariah that Daddy is secretly producing hash oil and exporting it through the pharmaceutical company where Manikuttan works. When Shiva tortures his brother to prevent police cooperation, Murugan decides to end Daddy's operation and protect his family at all costs.

  • hash oil export
  • zachariah
  • brother protection
  • betrayal
Q10

What role do the tiger attacks play in the story?

The tiger attacks serve as both a literal threat and a narrative device throughout the film. They establish Murugan's heroic reputation as Pulimurugan, create the initial conflict that leads to his false accusation, and ultimately become the instrument of Daddy's downfall, symbolizing the thin line between guardian and prey.

Foreshadowing: Murugan's childhood trauma begins with his father's death at a tiger's jaws, setting the cycle in motion.

  • tiger attacks
  • pulimurugan
  • wildlife
  • village protection
Q11

Why does Daddy kidnap Balaraman?

Daddy kidnaps Balaraman as part of his revenge plan against Murugan. After eliminating Shiva, Daddy ambushes Balaraman and Poongayi Sasi, taking Balaraman prisoner to lure Murugan into a final confrontation. Sasi is left badly wounded in the attack.

  • balaraman kidnapping
  • sas
  • ambush
  • revenge trap
Q12

How does Murugan protect his family from the police?

When DSP Zachariah's team arrives at Murugan's home to arrest him, Murugan and his family escape under the cover of night. They flee to Mangalore with the ganja shipment, using the illegal operation as both cover and means to secure Manikuttan's future job.

  • myna
  • family escape
  • mangalore
  • police raid
Q13

What is the backstory between R.K. and Myna?

Four years before the main events, R.K. attempted to assault Myna, but Murugan intervened and stopped him. This incident created a lasting grudge, as R.K. lost face and respect within the community. When R.K. gets assigned to investigate the tiger carcass case, he uses his power to settle the score against Murugan.

  • myna assault
  • r.k grudge
  • past incident
  • revenge

Movie threads

More Movies Like Pulimurugan, by Mood & Story

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

Rural Action Thrillers with a Protective Hero like in Pulimurugan

A lone protector defends their isolated community against external threats. If you liked Pulimurugan, explore more movies where a lone hero defends their rural community. These films combine intense action with a strong sense of place, featuring skilled protectors battling threats that endanger their traditional way of life and the people they hold dear.

  • action-packed
  • protective
  • rural
  • thrilling
  • vengeful
  • suspenseful
  • Tone: tense, protective, vengeful
  • Pacing: fast, action-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often begin with the hero's peaceful life being disrupted by an external menace, such as criminals, corporations, or a natural danger. The central conflict revolves around the hero mobilizing their unique knowledge of the land and their combat skills to become an unstoppable force for their people, leading to a climactic confrontation that tests their limits.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together for their shared vibe of a high-stakes, personal battle set against a rustic backdrop. They blend fast-paced, physical action with heavy emotional stakes centered on loyalty, sacrifice, and the defense of home, creating a tense and thrilling experience.

Movies about Betrayal and Vengeance like Pulimurugan

A wronged hero must clear their name and seek justice against those who betrayed them. Find movies similar to Pulimurugan where the hero is betrayed and must fight to clear their name. These narratives focus on the emotional weight of injustice and the relentless pursuit of revenge, blending personal drama with high-stakes action and a bittersweet resolution.

  • vengeful
  • suspenseful
  • betrayal
  • justice
  • wrongly accused
  • intense
  • Tone: tense, dark, vengeful
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot typically hinges on a profound betrayal that shatters the hero's world, leading to their fall from grace—often involving imprisonment or being framed. The journey is one of survival, gathering allies or evidence, and a series of escalating confrontations leading to a final reckoning that delivers justice but often at a significant personal cost.

Why they belong together: These films share a core emotional arc of betrayal, injustice, and righteous fury. They are united by a heavy emotional weight, a tense atmosphere of paranoia and pursuit, and a cathartic yet costly victory that leaves the protagonist forever changed.

Every angle

Pulimurugan (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Pulimurugan 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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