The Truth

The Truth

Year: 1998

Runtime: 129 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Shaji Kailas

ActionThriller

The Truth deals with an investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) involving the murder of the Chief Minister of Kerala in bomb blast.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Truth (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Truth (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Kerala, India, New Delhi, India

Set primarily in Kerala, the film centers on a political-criminal landscape framed by a temple robbery and a crackdown on corruption. The investigation expands to New Delhi, where a SIT team pursues the conspiracy. The story moves between a temple, government offices, an apartment used by the killer, and police headquarters.

🏞️ Indian setting 🗳️ Political backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:14

Main Characters – The Truth (1998)

Meet the key characters of The Truth (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bharath Patteri (Mammootty)

Bharath Patteri is the SIT's lead investigator and the son of Patteri. He is methodical, principled, and skeptical of political interference, using sharp analysis to connect clues and push the case forward.

🕵️‍♂️ Investigator 🧠 Strategist 📈 Analytical

Hariprasad IPS (Murali)

Hariprasad is the DGP and the mastermind behind the assassination plot. He exerts control over the investigation, manipulating evidence and allies to safeguard his political ambitions.

🎯 Mastermind 🔑 Power 🦹‍♂️ Cunning

John DySP (Saikumar)

John is a dedicated detective whose findings about an explosives license threaten the entrenched interests. He is killed during the by-election fallout, and his investigation helps reveal the illegal network.

🕶️ Investigator 🛡️ Courage 🔎 Insight

Patteri (Thilakan)

Patteri is a respected Brahmin astrologer and the father figure to Bharath. He senses ominous signs about Madhavan's fate, grounding the story in traditional wisdom and moral concern.

🧙‍♂️ Mentor 📜 Wisdom 🌟 Guidance

Madhavan (Balachandra Menon)

Madhavan is the Chief Minister of Kerala who cracks down on corruption, triggering fierce political backlash. His assassination becomes the catalyst that exposes the deeper conspiracy.

🏛️ Politician 🎖️ Leader 🕊️ Vision

SP Meena Nambiar (Vani Viswanath)

Meena Nambiar is the initial investigator whose media-driven approach complicates the case. Her obsession with headlines accelerates the SIT takeover and social pressure surrounding the case.

🗞️ Media 🔍 Inquiry 🎯 Focus

Poozhimattom Thomachan (N. F. Varghese)

Thomachan is an influential politician linked to illegal explosive deals. He serves as the silent partner in the scheme and an anchor point for the conspiracy.

💼 Politician 💥 Exploitation 🗺️ Power

Pudhuval (Janardhanan)

Pudhuval is a character in the investigation; the summary does not elaborate his role, but he appears within the crime investigation network.

👔 Official 🔗 Link 🧰 Support

Nimmi (Divyaa Unni)

Nimmi is the enigmatic woman tied to the assassination plot; she uses a forged pass and appears central to the initial phase of the case, though the killer is later revealed to be male.

🪄 Enigma 🎭 Deception 💃 Allure

Nambiar (K. P. A. C. Azeez)

Nambiar is a political figure within the cast who features in the social-political web surrounding the case; his exact role in the investigation is not detailed in the summary.

🧬 Influence 🗳️ Politics 🗣️ Presence

Pothuval (Sadiq)

Pothuval is a police officer who assists Patteri in cracking the temple robbery and later features as part of the early investigation before the SIT takes over.

👮 Detected ⚡ Determination 🛰️ Fieldwork

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:14

Major Themes – The Truth (1998)

Explore the central themes of The Truth (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔎 Corruption

A web of political ambition and party interests drives the crackdown on officials. The plot shows how power can shield wrongdoing and steer investigations away from the truth.

🎯 Conspiracy

The investigation is repeatedly misdirected by decoys and hidden allies. The mastermind manipulates evidence and uses others to serve a larger illegal agenda. The political calculus behind the killings becomes clear as the layers peel away.

💡 Truth

Bharath uncovers inconsistencies in the initial inquiry, questioning the single photograph as evidence. The team creates a male version of the killer's image to misdirect the press and public. They trace the killer's network to uncover the illegal explosive deals. The truth reveals that John was the actual target and the killings were a cover to protect bigger criminals.

⚖️ Justice

Once the conspiracy is exposed, the puppet master Hariprasad and his silent partner Thomachan are brought to justice. The SIT returns to Delhi with the promise of accountability and reforms, and Pothuval is recognized for his help.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:14

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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.

Political Conspiracy Thrillers like The Truth

Tense investigations into corrupt systems where the hunter becomes the hunted.If you enjoyed the relentless investigation and pervasive corruption in The Truth, explore more movies like it. This collection features high-tension thrillers about political assassinations, cover-ups, and detectives uncovering dangerous truths within a corrupt system.

suspensefulparanoidgrippingmethodicalcorrosiveunsettlinganxious

Narrative Summary

Stories typically follow a methodical investigation that begins with a major public crime, like an assassination. As the protagonist digs deeper, they uncover layers of deception, face threats from unseen forces, and realize the conspiracy reaches the highest levels of power, often implicating their own allies.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped for their shared focus on exposing systemic corruption, their tense and paranoid tone, and their complex narratives that keep viewers guessing. They deliver a consistent experience of high-stakes, politically charged suspense.

Bleak Crime Procedurals similar to The Truth

Gritty crime stories where solving the case reveals a profoundly broken system.Fans of The Truth's heavy tone and complex police investigation will find similar movies here. These stories feature detailed procedural elements but often end with a somber or ambiguous feel, highlighting the lasting impact of corruption and crime.

grippingmethodicalcorrosiveunsettlingsombercynicalcomplex

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a police or special investigation team working on a high-profile, complex case. The journey is meticulous and demanding, but the conclusion is not a clear victory. Instead, it emphasizes the enduring nature of the problem, leaving characters and viewers with a sense of costly revelation rather than triumph.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a methodical pacing, a heavy emotional weight, and a complex narrative structure. They are united by a focus on the procedural details of crime-solving and a tone that is ultimately cynical or bittersweet about the possibility of true justice.

Unlock the Full Story of The Truth

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

The Truth Summary

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The Truth Summary

The Truth Timeline

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The Truth Timeline

The Truth Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Truth Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Truth

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Truth: 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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