Arishadvarga 2019

Anish accepts anonymous gift from Manasaa

In present-day Bangalore, Anish, an aspiring actor who doubles as a gigolo, is broke and desperate. He accepts a mysterious arrangement from a wealthy anonymous client named Manasaa. She invites him to her place, and he discovers that the 'gift' she wants him to handle is a murder, pulling him into a dangerous cover-up.

Discovery of the murder and a dangerous assignment

Anish arrives at Manasaa's place and learns that the 'gift' is disposing a murdered body. The victim is film producer and quarry owner Manjunath Bhat. This discovery drags Anish deeper into a web of crime and fear as he becomes an unwilling participant in the cover-up.

Shruthi's audition turns deadly

Shruthi, an aspiring actress, is invited to Manjunath's home for an audition and becomes entangled in the same murderous scheme. She and Anish are ordered by a VOIP call to dispose of the body quickly, drawing them further into danger. The trio's attempt to escape only makes the situation more precarious.

The invisible facilitator joins the crime

A petty thief cum auto-driver arrives at the murder house to pilfer, and ends up becoming part of the cover-up. He helps hide or move evidence, and later guides the police to the murder house, exposing the crime to authorities. His presence ties the criminals to law enforcement and complicates the investigation.

The investigation begins

Inspector Ashok leads the investigation, supported by Rajanna, while living a solitary life. They begin to piece together the suspects and timelines surrounding the murder. The case gravitates toward Manjunath, Kruthi, and Anish as new testimonies emerge and motives surface.

Kruthi reveals her backstory

Kruthi Bhat, Manjunath's second wife, explains to Ashok the couple's love story and marriage, and how Anish came to be involved as a common friend. She describes how Manjunath had asked Anish to help Kruthi become pregnant in exchange for a hero role in his production. Her testimony shapes the investigation's early direction, even as tensions remain.

Karthik's introduction and the pregnancy

Ashok's lead is challenged when Karthik, a man who works for Manjunath, is introduced. Kruthi begins to develop feelings for Karthik, and she becomes pregnant from their illicit relationship. The pregnancy raises the stakes and threatens to expose more secrets.

Manjunath's exploitation and murder threat

Manjunath learns of Kruthi's relationship with Karthik and tries to exploit it by threatening her with an intimate video. In a heated quarrel, Kruthi kills Manjunath. The murder cements Kruthi's fragility and redraws the investigation's lines.

Kruthi's plan to frame Anish

Kruthi hatches a plan to frame Anish as the murderer by inviting him to her house via a call, with the number provided by a high-end pimp. Anish is lured into the murder house and becomes the focal point of the police investigation. The ruse deepens the web of deception surrounding the case.

Ashok silences a witness

Ashok becomes aware of Karthik and Kruthi's illicit relationship and uses this knowledge to further his own ends. He murders Karthik in a quarry to silence a potential witness, then moves into Kruthi's home and starts a new life there. The act marks a chilling turn in the detective's moral ambiguity.

A call from Manasa hints at a sequel

Near the end, Ashok receives a call from Manasa, who appears to be Manjunath's first wife living abroad. The call leaves the case open and hints at deeper connections and a potential sequel.