Vada Chennai

Vada Chennai

Year: 2018

Runtime: 166 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: Vetrimaaran

Echo Score: 88
ActionCrimeDramaCrime drugs and gangstersBollywood emotional dramas

Anbu, a young carrom player in North Chennai becomes inadvertently involved in an ongoing conflict between two local gangsters.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Vada Chennai (2018)

Trace every key event in Vada Chennai (2018) 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

Restaurant strike against Rajan

Guna, Senthil, Velu, Pazhani and others stage a coordinated strike in a crowded restaurant to wipe out the high-profile crime boss Rajan. The operation sends shockwaves through North Madras and shakes the local underworld balance. In the aftermath, Senthil steps into a protective role and urges Guna and Velu to surrender for the murder, triggering the first rift in the group.

1987 Crowded restaurant, North Madras
2

Rajan kidnaps ACP to stall road project

Rajan defies political pressure by kidnapping the ACP to halt the road project linked to a papal visit. The Chief Minister's death around the same time heightens political tension and Rajan attends the minister's funeral, solidifying his hold on the hood. His actions set the stage for a brutal retaliation from his rivals.

1987
3

Rajan killed during retaliation

Guna, Senthil and Velu retaliate against Rajan's provocations and kill him during the confrontation. The death shifts power in the neighborhood and invites further crackdown. Thambi pleads for restraint as the violence echoes through the underworld.

1987
4

The rift deepens; Senthil pulls strings from behind bars

A year after the attack, Senthil asks Guna and Velu to surrender for Rajan's murder, while quietly bailing them out to preserve the group's balance. Guna and Velu end up behind bars, and the budding loyalty rift gnaws at the core trio. The power dynamics begin to fracture, setting the stage for future betrayals.

1988
5

Anbu enters the underworld

In 1991, Anbu is introduced as a 20-year-old skilled carrom player who is pulled into high-stakes matches. He saves Guna from contract killers at a festival, revealing that Senthil's men are behind the attack and proving that the Guna–Senthil feud remains unresolved. Anbu's loyalty to Guna is established as his personal arc grows.

1991
6

Rajiv Gandhi night and Padma's sewing machine

On the night Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated, chaos erupts in the hamlet as looters run amok. A masked girl steals a sewing machine from Anbu, whom he later lets go. The next morning, cops recover the item from the shopkeeper, who had previously clashed with Anbu, complicating his standing and foreshadowing shifting loyalties.

1991 Hamlet during Rajiv Gandhi assassination night
7

Pazhani's harassment and death

Pazhani pressures Padma by harassing her and beating her brother Kannan. Anbu and Kannan confront Pazhani using weapons from Guna’s stock, and Pazhani is killed. Pazhani's henchmen give chase, laying the groundwork for ongoing vendettas.

1996
8

Prison arrangements and power plays in 2000

In 2000, Raju helps Anbu move to the 7th block by smuggling contraband, while Senthil pursues political aims through the imprisoned Muthu. Anbu is placed in the 11th block under Velu and Mani, and a raid leads to the theft of Mani's phone, narrowly averting a lethal setback.

2000 Madras Central Prison
9

Carrom tournament ends in violence

Anbu arranges a prison carrom tournament to stabilize tensions and bolster political ambitions. The knockout rounds culminate in the yard, where two rival factions clash and a tent collapses. In the melee, Anbu stabs Senthil in the neck with a wooden shard, leaving him incapacitated while Raju, the lone witness, stays silent.

2000 Open prison yard
10

Loyalty conflict and explanation

After Senthil is wounded, Anbu explains to Raju that loyalty binds him to Guna and that his code of justice blends personal loyalty with ruthless pragmatism. The balance of power inside the prison shifts as Anbu asserts a new authority and redefines allegiances.

2000 Madras Central Prison
11

2003: Anbu opposes the road contract; Chandra's manipulation

At a 2003 meeting with a road contractor, Anbu stands up for the hood and rejects the project, signaling a shift in political calculations. Chandra, revealed as the architect of much of the turmoil, lures Guna away from the hood and brings Rajan’s former men to guard Anbu. The stage is set for a final power struggle.

2003
12

Final trap and Rajan's legacy secured

In the final twist, Anbu traps Guna and Chandra as they attempt to flee the hood. Chandra secretly hands Rajan's old home over to Anbu, signaling a consolidation of power. Anbu returns to champion Rajan’s people, enforcing a new order and preserving Rajan’s legacy.

2003

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:45

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Vada Chennai Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Vada Chennai

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