A legendary cop fakes his death to become a bakery owner
In short: To protect his daughter from a ruthless political feud, a former police officer vanishes into a quiet life in Kerala. But when his past enemies resurface, he must choose between his vow of non-violence and a calculated war of retribution to ensure his family's survival.
The 2016 Tamil-language action thriller 'Theri' follows DCP Vijay Kumar, a legendary officer whose life was shattered by a violent home invasion. After his wife and mother were murdered by the family of a corrupt Labour Minister, Vanamaamalai, Vijay faked his death to safeguard his infant daughter, Nivi. He spent years living under deep cover in Alappuzha, Kerala, posing as Joseph Kuruvilla, a soft-spoken bakery owner, while raising his daughter with the help of a local schoolteacher.
The narrative tension peaks when Vanamaamalai discovers Vijay is alive and orchestrates a sabotage of Nivi's school bus. This forces Vijay to break his self-imposed oath of non-violence. The film depicts a series of calculated retaliations: he executes the minister's brother, Ratnam, and eventually confronts Vanamaamalai at his stronghold. In a symbolic act of justice, Vijay hangs the minister's body from a ceiling, mirroring the fate of his brother.
Produced by V Creations and directed by Atlee, the film was a significant commercial success, grossing ₹150 crore (US$16 million) on a budget of ₹75 crore (US$7.8 million). It was inspired by the 1990 film 'Chatriyan' and the 2013 Hollywood movie 'Homefront'. The production faced significant hurdles, including strikes by the Film Employees Federation of South India, heavy flooding in Chennai, and the need to pivot from filming in China to Bangkok due to poor weather.
The story concludes with a shift in perspective: years later, Vijay lives in Ladakh under the alias Dharmeshwar. While he maintains a peaceful family life, he secretly utilizes his investigative expertise to assist the Central Bureau of Investigation, blending his role as a protective father with his identity as a clandestine operative.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Theri (film)
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