Oppam 2016

Jayaraman is a blind man living in a crowded Kochi apartment building who relies on every other sense to move through life. Despite his disability, he is a formidable practitioner of kalaripayattu, with an uncanny ability to notice smells, sounds, and textures that others overlook. He works as a lift operator and caretaker, scraping together money for his sister’s wedding while staying loyally by the side of the aging, retired judge who shares his building, Krishnamoorthy. Their bond runs deep, and Jayaraman becomes inseparable from the judge’s quiet, protect-the-family mindset as Krishnamoorthy unfolds a troubling story from the past.

Years earlier, Vasudevan was imprisoned by Krishnamoorthy for a crime he didn’t commit, a decision the judge kept to the letter of the law even as the truth gnawed at him. Vasudevan’s family, crushed by the weight of that injustice, chose despair over survival and ended their lives by poisoning themselves. The grief-hardening seed of vengeance takes root in Vasudevan, transforming him into a shadowy threat who vows to kill Krishnamoorthy and anyone close to him. The danger feels personal, and Krishnamoorthy’s fear grows as he contemplates the cost of justice.

To shield his young daughter, Nandini, Krishnamoorthy sends her to a convent school, severing her direct link to the dangerous world surrounding her father. Nandini spends her days under the care of the Mother Superior, longing for stories of the man she calls her father. Jayaraman visits her often, promising to bring him back next time, even as he navigates the delicate balance of loyalty to Krishnamoorthy and the responsibilities of protecting endearing, innocent life. The judge, meanwhile, moves money into a dedicated bank account for Nandini’s future, careful to keep transfers off the electronic grid to minimize scrutiny.

A grand wedding in the building brings joy to many, but it also exposes the fragility of trust. During a private moment, Devayani, the divorcee and maid in the building, notices the shadow of something amiss as Krishnamoorthy transfers money into the hidden account and then into a safe within his apartment. When the party ends, Krishnamoorthy is found dead and the money has vanished from the safe. The search for the thief begins in earnest, and the police quickly circle around Jayaraman, whose loyalty and proximity to Krishnamoorthy make him the prime suspect despite his pleas of innocence.

As the pressure mounts, Jayaraman seeks to shield Nandini from the danger that tracks her, aided by Ganga, the ACP who becomes an unexpected ally. He tries to reach the truth, but the path is treacherous: Vasudevan is not finished, and the killer’s shadow stretches across the city, pressing in on every doorway. The investigation tightens: Devayani’s brother becomes a suspect factor in the missing money, and Jayaraman’s name remains tied to a crime he did not commit. The stakes rise as Jayaraman is beaten during interrogations, escapes, and becomes a fugitive in his own home.

Jayaraman fights to protect Nandini, and he and Ganga move to hide her in the convent under the Mother Superior’s supervision. Vasudevan closes in, attacking Ganga and pushing toward the vulnerable girl. It is then that Jayaraman confronts the heart of the mystery: he tells Ganga a difficult truth about Nandini and Vasudevan, and the danger of letting the girl fall into Vasudevan’s hands. The revelation fractures the moment—Nandini’s true connection to Vasudevan becomes the central focus of the killer’s obsession, and Jayaraman must decide how to break the cycle of violence without losing the girl who has become like a daughter to him.

In a tense confrontation that tests every ounce of courage, Jayaraman tries to use truth as a shield. He misleads Vasudevan long enough to buy time for Nandini’s safety, insisting that her ties to Vasudevan are weaker than they appear. When Vasudevan finally closes in, Jayaraman lures him into a trap over a phone call—the ringing tone signaling the decisive moment. With the killer distracted, Jayaraman makes a grim choice and ends Vasudevan’s threat once and for all. The danger recedes, but the emotional toll remains.

In the aftermath, the bond between Jayaraman and Nandini is rebuilt on a foundation of trust, resilience, and mutual care. They begin a new life together, not as guardian and ward, but as a loving father and daughter who have faced down a dark past and chosen each other as their future. The city’s noise settles around them, but their quiet, steadfast bond stands firm, a testament to courage, loyalty, and the enduring power of family.