Rowthiram

In the 1990s, Shiva is trained in Kalaripayattu by his grandfather, learning to be bold and just. The training becomes his guiding code, shaping how he handles danger and defends the vulnerable. His parents wish for safety, creating a tension between duty and family expectations.

Shiva's parents Udaya Murthy and Lakshmi long for a calmer path for their son and hope he will choose safety over peril. They worry that his fearless code will bring him into constant conflict with the law. The clash between protective affection and his sense of justice sets up the emotional stakes of his journey.

Shiva confronts law student Guna, who is part of Gowri's gang, triggering a clash that lands him in trouble with the authorities. The incident tests his resolve and foreshadows the legal and personal battles ahead. It also marks the moment his protector instinct begins to draw attention from powerful forces.

Priya—a determined law student and the daughter of a police official—bails Shiva out of custody and believes in his instinct to defend the vulnerable. She witnesses him act to protect others and is quietly drawn to his courage. Their connection blossoms amid rising danger.

Guna vows revenge after the earlier trouble, escalating the danger surrounding Shiva. Shiva feels every move of his being watched by the gang, heightening the sense that threats are always near. The tension builds toward a more personal confrontation.

At a bus stop, a gang abducts a young girl, and Shiva refuses to look away. He engages them in a fierce fight to save the victim, proving his protective instinct in action. Among the rowdies is Gowri, whose anger promises a personal duel with Shiva.

Kavitha marries Ramanujan and Srinath marries his longtime love, all without Shiva’s knowledge. He is stunned and decides to leave home, carrying only his grandfather’s photo. The departure deepens his isolation and expands the distance between him and his loved ones.

The family ally Kavitha, a lawyer, assists Shiva when the police close in, underscoring the tenuous thread that still ties him to his family. Her intervention keeps him free long enough to continue his mission. The act reinforces the complex web of loyalties surrounding him.

Priya’s father and Shiva’s own father attempt to redirect him away from reckless danger toward a future with Priya. They urge him to channel his anger into a path that protects others without sacrificing himself. A tense car ride becomes the crucible for his next choice.

During the tense journey, Shiva is tested between acting impulsively and restraining himself for a greater good. The moment culminates in a dramatic leap from the car, signaling a decisive shift in how he will handle danger. This choice redefines his approach to rescuing others.

The climactic arc features a twist: in the original cut Priya was the girl in trouble and dies, but a later revision changes the victim to someone else. The survivor keeps Priya's future open to interpretation while preserving Shiva's unwavering resolve to protect others. The ending invites reflection on whether heroism endures when tragedy is avoided.

Throughout, the film threads duty, love, and the costs of standing up for what is right. With the support of trusted allies and the burden of hard choices, Shiva's path as a guardian continues beyond the frame. The legend of a boy who became a protector resonates long after the screen fades.