Tik Tik Tik

Tik Tik Tik

Year: 1981

Runtime: 164 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: Bharathiraja

CrimeThrillerDrama

A fashion photographer gets embroiled in a series of grisly murders.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Tik Tik Tik yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Tik Tik Tik (1981)

Trace every key event in Tik Tik Tik (1981) 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

Sherley returns to Madras

Sherley, a model, returns to Madras after a modelling stint abroad. She is promptly received by the local modelling agency. The stage is set for the darker events that follow.

upon her return Madras
2

Drugging and operation

Shortly after her arrival, the agency drugs Sherley and subjects her to an operation. The procedure hints at a sinister motive behind the agency's methods. This marks the beginning of the peril facing the models.

shortly after arrival Modelling agency facility
3

Sherley’s death discovered

Sherley's dead body is found soon after the operation. The death suggests foul play connected to the agency's hidden agenda. The incident drives the investigation and deepens the mystery.

soon after Madras city
4

Dileep enters the pageant world

Dileep works as a photographer for a newspaper covering a beauty pageant run by Oberoi. He becomes romantically involved with Sharadha while also mingling with Radha and Swapna. His personal and professional entanglements pull him into a dangerous web.

during the pageant Beauty pageant venue, Madras
5

Swapna's murder and Dileep's downfall

Swapna's dead body surfaces, and Dileep becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation. Posters with his face flood the city as police close in. He goes on the run to prove his innocence.

soon after City / pageant area
6

Radha shelters Dileep

Radha, who sees Dileep as a friend, helps him and lets him stay at her apartment. She becomes an ally in his attempt to clear his name. Their alliance intensifies the tensions surrounding the murders.

after he escapes Radha's apartment
7

Radha found murdered in the water tank

The next morning, Dileep discovers a bloody water tank with Radha's corpse. The crowd and police misidentify him again, turning him into a prime suspect. The case takes another dark turn, pushing him to intensify the investigation.

the morning after Radha's building water tank
8

Dileep begins methodical investigation

Dileep starts investigating and narrows the common link to the modelling agency. He secretly meets Sharadha and notices an incision on her body, like the others. She recalls being unconscious during an overseas shoot, hinting at a deliberate pattern of harm.

as he investigates Overseas photo shoot locations / secret meeting
9

Uncovering Oberoi's scheme

They uncover Oberoi's nefarious business: drugging models during overseas shoots, operating on them, and smuggling diamonds into India using their bodies. Returning to India, the models are drugged again, and one by one they are killed. The truth points to Oberoi as the mastermind behind the crimes.

as the investigation progresses Oberoi's modelling agency and overseas locations
10

Dileep captured; allies expose the truth

Oberoi's goons capture Dileep, but his editor and girlfriend help him reveal the truth. They gather evidence of the drug operations and murders and plan to surface it before Oberoi can silence them. The trio pushes toward a climactic confrontation.

climax Oberoi's hideout
11

Oberoi's suicide as police close in

Police sirens approach as the conspiracy unravels. Rather than be arrested, Oberoi eats his own diamonds and commits suicide. The film closes with Dileep vindicated and the victims' story exposed.

as police arrive Oberoi's facility / city

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:43

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Tik Tik Tik Summary

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Tik Tik Tik Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Tik Tik Tik

Tik Tik Tik Spoiler-Free Summary

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