Show

Show

Year: 2002

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: G. Neelakanta Reddy

Ridhima, a Delhi‑based pharmaceutical executive, travels to a remote Andhra Pradesh village to negotiate a patent deal with a professor who has developed a new drug. The professor leaves a note that he will return later, so she waits. Junior lawyer Madhav Rao, overseeing the transaction, arrives. Ridhima is carefree and single; Madhav is a frustrated married man, and their brief, charged encounter drives the story.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Show (2002)

Trace every key event in Show (2002) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Ridhima arrives to discuss patent deal

Ridhima travels to a remote village in Andhra Pradesh to meet the professor who invented the new drug. The professor leaves a note that he will return late and asks her to wait. Madhav Rao, a junior advocate supervising the patent sale, also arrives at the lonely resort where the events will unfold.

Remote village/resort in Andhra Pradesh
2

Madhav Rao's personal turmoil

Madhav Rao is a depressed, frustrated junior advocate who dislikes his profession. He is a married man tormented by his taunting wife Sudha. He carries a somber mood as he oversees the patent sale at the resort.

Resort
3

A budding friendship forms

In the professor's lonely resort, Ridhima and Madhav start talking and gradually become friends. They share small jokes and confidences while waiting for the professor. The contrast between her free spirit and his gray routine creates an unusual bond.

Resort
4

Ridhima's entertainment bet

To pass time, Ridhima offers a challenge paying thirty thousand rupees to anyone who entertains her for at least an hour. Madhav agrees and then improvises a prank by acting as a psycho, which hurts Ridhima but does not break their budding friendship. He also reveals that he once tried acting for five years but failed and became a junior advocate.

Resort
5

The idea to stage a play

To kill more time, Madhav suggests staging a play about a husband and wife who are divorcing. Ridhima is not very interested at first, but she agrees to go along with it to pass the time until the professor arrives. The plan sets the stage for their evolving dynamic.

Resort
6

The interrupted play

Madhav begins the improvisation but stops the play when Ridhima shows disinterest, hurting him personally. The interruption sparks a moment of tension between them, revealing how seriously he takes the exercise. Ridhima apologizes later as they continue waiting for the professor.

Resort
7

Lavish lunch and renewed resolve

Madhav prepares a lavish lunch filled with Ridhima’s favorites, trying to lift the mood. After the meal, she confesses that she cannot act, and Madhav encourages her to gain confidence and try again. They resume the same play with renewed resolve.

Resort
8

The Sandhya and Subba Rao performance

In the play they name themselves Sandhya and Subba Rao and begin discussing their relationship, hinting at a possible patch up or separation. Madhav is unsettled by lines that remind him of his wife Sudha, which frustrates him. The performance begins to blur the line between acting and reality.

Resort stage within the play
9

The real confrontation escalates

As the act progresses, Sandhya confesses that she loves Sanjay and is waiting for him. Madhav presses about their son Shambu, and Sandhya replies that they should die together in a well. The argument escalates and Madhav becomes increasingly furious.

Resort stage within the play
10

Madhav's confession and violence

Madhav reveals his own deep love for Sandhya and speaks of sacrifices he has made. Ridhima realizes the confrontation has turned real and that Madhav is dangerously consumed by his feelings. The situation spirals toward a destructive moment.

Resort stage within the play
11

Reality hits and realization dawns

Ridhima understands that the performance has crossed into real emotion and that Madhav is grasping for control over his life and love. She becomes distressed by the gravity of what is unfolding under their act. The room feels charged with dangerous intensity.

Resort
12

Climax: stopping the show

Ridhima claps and stops the violent turn, insisting that it was only a drama. Madhav regains his senses, apologizing for his actions and acknowledging how far the performance has gone. The moment marks a turning point as they try to separate fiction from reality.

Resort
13

Resolution and professor's return

They laugh at their act and reset their perspective, momentarily forgetting their troubles. The professor finally returns to claim his task, bringing the events to a close. The film ends with the professor's arrival as the emotional tension dissipates.

Resort

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:24

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with reality-bending mind games like in Show

Stories where performance and reality dangerously blur, turning allies into adversaries.If you liked the psychological tension in Show, explore more movies where a simple role-play or experiment spirals into a dangerous game. These films feature characters testing each other's limits, with narratives that cleverly blur fiction and reality, creating a deeply unsettling and tense viewing experience.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically involve two or more characters who begin a structured interaction—a play, a wager, a therapeutic session—that is supposed to be safe and contained. However, repressed emotions, personal obsessions, or hidden agendas cause the scenario to overflow its boundaries, forcing the characters to confront truths about themselves and each other in unpredictable and often destructive ways.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their core premise of a constructed reality that collapses under the weight of authentic human emotion. They share a focus on psychological manipulation, a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere, and a narrative that explores the fragility of identity when faced with a compelling fiction.

Claustrophobic character-driven dramas similar to Show

Intimate dramas where confined settings amplify personal tensions and repressed emotions.Viewers looking for movies like Show will find similar tense, intimate dramas here. These films often take place in a single location, using the confined space to intensify the emotional conflict between characters dealing with marriage, identity, and personal breakdowns in a slow-burning narrative.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves placing conflicted characters—often strangers or estranged acquaintances—in a confined space like a remote house, a hotel room, or a secluded village. With limited external plot events, the story unfolds through charged conversations and subtle power dynamics, leading to a climactic emotional outburst or a profound, bittersweet realization about their lives.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared reliance on a claustrophobic atmosphere to explore deep character psychology. They prioritize mood and interpersonal tension over complex plotting, resulting in a slow, immersive, and emotionally resonant experience centered on human fragility.

Unlock the Full Story of Show

Don't stop at just watching — explore Show 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 Show is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Show Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Show, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Show Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Show

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Show. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Show

Show Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Show that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Show Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Show

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Show: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Show