Year: 1991
Runtime: 131 mins
Language: Tamil
Director: Sasi Mohan
A criminal helps a police officer and the victim of a crime to solve a murder.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Mayaandi, Mansoor Ali Khan, a notorious convict, engineers a daring escape from prison with inside help from the staff and sets out to brutally murder Rudhra’s entire family, leaving her an orphan. A neighbor informs Rudhra that she witnessed the killers fleeing the scene and identifies one of them as Mayaandi. Rudhra soon realizes that her father, Gopal, a police officer, helped imprison Mayaandi. Rudhra reports the crime to the police, but they are powerless to act, since Mayaandi has already returned to prison and has an alibi.
Rudhra receives a letter from her late father, who details his probe into Mayaandi’s connections with corrupt police officers and politicians. She discovers a video cassette containing incriminating evidence and hands it over to the DSP, Lakshmi, only to learn that she is part of the conspiracy. The DSP attacks Rudhra, intending to molest her, but she kills him in self-defense. Although the court finds her guilty, Rudhra refuses to reveal the reason behind her actions. Consequently, she is sent for inquiry under the supervision of an honest and incorruptible officer.
The conspirators, realizing that the video cassette they seized from Rudhra was not the incriminating one, continue to pursue her, but Lalitha rescues her after receiving an anonymous tip. Rudhra shares her story with Lalitha, who is unaware of the original cassette’s location. The next day, while being transported to court, Rudhra escapes from the police. With no other option, Lalitha is forced to confront and kill Rudhra, but it is soon revealed that Lalitha had allied with Rudhra and had staged the fake encounter to protect Rudhra from the world.
Since the police department feels unsafe, Lalitha disguises Rudhra as a boy and entrusts her to Madurai, a thief with a reputation for intelligence. Lalitha briefs Rudhra on Madurai’s exceptional abilities, citing a daring bank robbery he committed in broad daylight, evading the police with ease. Madurai uses the stolen funds to support orphaned and disabled children, as well as underprivileged individuals in need of medical care. Rudhra develops strong feelings for Madurai. Although Madurai is initially hesitant, he eventually agrees to assist Lalitha in unraveling the conspiracy. Madurai soon discovers Rudhra’s true identity.
Meanwhile, the corrupt officials remain skeptical about Rudhra’s death and dispatch their men to tail Lalitha and Madurai, whose timely intervention rescues them from harm. After hearing the full story, Madurai devises a plan to bring the conspirators to justice. So, he randomly contacts police officers, inquiring about Mayaandi. He shortlists DCP Sundararajan and ACP Mohan as the perpetrators involved in Rudhra’s family’s murder. Although unaware of the cassette’s existence, Madurai lures Sundararajan and Mohan by claiming to possess the video cassette they were searching for, offering to exchange it for money. He skillfully manipulates Sundararajan and Mohan into confessing their crimes with Mayaandi, which he secretly video records as evidence. He uses this recording to threaten them. However, Mayaandi reveals that he possesses the video cassette, exposing Madurai’s ruse. Mayaandi now captures Madurai, Lalitha, and Rudhra. To escape, Madurai creates a diversion, claiming that the video cassette has a duplicate copy stored in a bank locker belonging to a central minister. This clever ploy leads to the arrest of Sundararajan and Mohan.
Madurai, Lalitha, and Rudhra engage in a fierce hand-to-hand combat with Maayandi and his henchmen. Ultimately, Madurai fatally shoots Maayandi, cleverly staging the scene to make it appear as though Lalitha had fired the shot in self-defense, retaliating against Maayandi’s attempt to shoot her. Before the police arrive to intervene, Madurai and Rudhra make a swift escape.
Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:58
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Opposites must forge a bond to survive a web of institutional betrayal.If you enjoyed the dynamic of a criminal and a police officer joining forces in Rudhra, you'll find similar tension and camaraderie in these thrillers. This list features movies where enemies become allies to take down a corrupt system, perfect for fans of high-stakes, character-driven crime stories.
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The narrative pattern follows a protagonist who suffers a profound loss, launching them on a dangerous path of retribution. They must descend into a bleak and oppressive environment—often a corrupt city or organization—confronting powerful adversaries. The plot is fast-paced and tense, building towards a final confrontation that delivers emotional release and a sense of restored order, even if scars remain.
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Don't stop at just watching — explore Rudhra 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 Rudhra is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Rudhra with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Rudhra. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Rudhra: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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