Tantiram

Tantiram

Year: 2023

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: Muthyala Meher Deepak

FantasyHorrorMystery

Balachandran shuns contact with women, isolating himself because of a painful childhood trauma involving his mother. His solitary world is upended when he meets the enchanting Alagini, whose presence transforms him into a warm, joyful partner. Their marital happiness is soon threatened by the arrival of a deceitful supernatural force that disrupts his life.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Tantiram (2023)

Trace every key event in Tantiram (2023) 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

Origins: Ahalya and the jinn threat

The narration opens with the mythic figure Ahalya, created by Brahma, celebrated for her beauty. It then shifts to a warning about jinns who terrorize humans to mate with unsuspecting women. This establishes the supernatural thread that will run through Bala and Alagini's story.

2

Present-day Hyderabad frame and storytelling

In present-day Hyderabad, a group of friends gathers for drinks and trade horror stories. Ajay begins Balachandran's tale, framing the central tragedy to come. The mood shifts from casual banter to a pulse-pounding legend within the factory city.

Present day Hyderabad
3

Bala's trauma and arranged marriage

Bala is traumatized since his mother eloped, leading to deep mistrust of women. Under his father's pressure, he marries Alagini. The marriage slowly transforms him into a jovial, loving man who treats his female employees better.

Pre-Jinn events Bala's home
4

Jinn settles in the family firecracker factory

The Jinn inhabits the Bala family's firecracker factory and begins to exert control over Bala. Bala's trust in others erodes as nightmares and disturbing disturbances begin to appear. The presence of the Jinn marks the start of a perilous power dynamic.

Early possession Bala family firecracker factory
5

Jinn overhears women praising Alagini

The Jinn overhears the women at the factory discussing how beautiful Alagini is and uses this to manipulate Bala. It frames Bala's ambitions by hinting that wealth and power come with the price of loyalty. Bala starts to show hesitation and paranoia.

Early factory years Factory
6

Blood-for-wealth ritual

To please the Jinn, Bala drugs Alagini and draws a few drops of her blood to offer. The Jinn licks the blood and declares it will leave forever, returning only when Bala calls it. Bala's wish is granted, and his business begins expanding, with plans for a new factory within a year.

Night of the ritual; early expansion Bala's home and factory
7

First expansion and new factory

Bala's fortune grows rapidly with the Jinn's aid, enabling aggressive expansion. Within a year he starts building a new factory to accommodate demand. The town and workers marvel at the sudden prosperity.

Within a year after ritual New factory site
8

Greed vs. the Jinn's demand

Bala's greed grows as he pushes further for wealth. The Jinn asks to mate with Alagini instead of blood, escalating the moral cost. Bala resists and tries to bargain, but the Jinn warns that Bala cannot send it away and that it can both build and destroy him.

Post-expansion Factory
9

Regulatory setback and disaster

A government ban on firecrackers hits Bala's business hard. He moves stock and equipment into the new factory, hoping to weather the storm. Soon, heavy rains strike and destroy the new factory's fragile base.

After ban; during monsoon New factory site
10

Kailash, doubt, and the test of trust

The Jinn taunts Bala by hints at Alagini's infidelity and names Kailash, her supposed childhood friend. Alagini clarifies that Kailash was only a friend and nothing happened. Bala's faith in his wife falters as he wrestles with the vision the Jinn showed.

After revelations Factory
11

Paternal counsel and a dangerous choice

Bala seeks his father's advice and is told to let the Jinn take his wife. The elder's words echo Bala's long-standing belief that women are impure, pushing him toward a tragic framework. Bala grapples with whether to risk everything for wealth and pride.

After visions Bala's home
12

Puja night and the Jinn's final demand

Bala arranges for Alagini to dress as a newlywed bride for a puja at the factory. The Jinn celebrates Bala's obedience and engulfs Alagini in flames. Alagini asserts her innocence by recalling their first night and the blood on the bed, revealing she is pregnant.

Puja day Factory
13

Tragedy seals: murder and suicide

Devastated, Bala confronts the Jinn and pleads for mercy, but it mocks him. He returns home and suffocates his father to death with a pillow, blaming him for past tragedies. He then kills himself in the same factory.

Immediate aftermath Factory
14

Ajay finishes the tale and the haunting twist

Ajay finishes the story and his friends realize the tragedy happened in the very factory where they now sit. The frame ends with a flash of a burning Alagini, leaving a chill in the air as they look around in fear.

Present day The same factory

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:23

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