What Is Dikkiloona About?
The premise of Dikkiloona in 291 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a bustling modern world where everyday pressures clash with lingering dreams, Mani drifts through a life that feels increasingly out of sync. Once a promising hockey player, he now toils as a lineman for the electricity board, his marriage to Priya strained by unspoken expectations and a chorus of frustrations. The couple’s relationship teeters on the edge, a fragile mirror of the larger tension between personal aspirations and the demands of family, while their friends and relatives hover on the periphery, offering both support and subtle judgment.
A chance encounter with a secretive group of scientists—who are quietly perfecting a device that can bend the flow of time—offers Mani an improbable lifeline. With the help of his loyal, if unconventional, friend Albert, he learns that a single leap backward could give him the chance to rewrite a pivotal moment: the day he is about to exchange vows with Priya. The prospect of using such a groundbreaking invention for a deeply personal purpose introduces a playful yet thoughtful tension, as the film balances the wonder of speculative technology with the very human desire to correct past regrets.
The story unfolds with a tone that blends lighthearted sci‑fi curiosity and relatable melancholy, inviting the audience to wonder how far one would go to reclaim a sense of control over destiny. As Mani prepares to confront his younger self, the film teases the paradoxes of meddling with time, the ripple effects of altered choices, and the bittersweet realization that every attempt to fix the present may uncover new layers of complexity. Amid humor, warmth, and a touch of existential reflection, the narrative promises a journey that is as much about inner growth as it is about the tantalizing possibility of a second chance.
What Happens in Dikkiloona?
The complete story of Dikkiloona, from the first scene to the last, in 610 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Mani, an ex-hockey player who now works as an EB Lineman, carries a tense, stress-filled marriage. With the help of Albert, a cleaner on a team of scientists who are developing a time travel device, he stumbles upon a way to move through time and alter the course of his life. He uses this chance to slip back to the year 2020, just two days before his wedding, hoping to fix what went wrong.
In the 2020 present, Mani introduces himself to his past self as EB Mani. The groom is skeptical at first, even thinking the stranger might be a doppelgänger born from his father’s past, but once EB Mani shares details only the older version could know, the groom begins to believe. EB Mani warns him to stop the wedding and even leaves an exit watch, insisting that the future will reveal why this change matters.
The groom travels forward to 2027 and finds a drastically altered life: Priya is unhappy, his parents-in-law show little respect, and Mani has not achieved hockey glory but works as a technician with a modest salary. He realizes that if the marriage proceeds as planned, their lives could take a harsher turn. In this future, Meghna appears as a supportive partner who has already divorced her husband, Karthik, who is deemed unworthy of her.
Back in 2020, the groom makes a bold choice: he stops the wedding and instead proposes to Meghna. The EB Mani who remains in 2027 is now a celebrated hockey star but faces a looming divorce from Meghna, who is portrayed as a spoiled figure chasing social media fame with her “boy bestie,” a dynamic that threatens Mani’s career and sense of stability.
Meanwhile, Priya’s view of the situation begins to shift as she grapples with the consequences of the interrupted wedding. Returning to the present plan, Mani’s efforts to salvage the timeline lead him to reach out to Priya, who is now working as a waitress in a small restaurant. She apologizes for the pressure she put on him to marry, and she reveals the pain of sacrificing their child when the wedding was halted. She explains the weight of those decisions, adding emotional gravity to the tangled timeline.
To try to restore the original sequence, EB Mani enlists Albert’s help to re-activate the time machine. But a resentful scientist tampers with the device, sending EB Mani into a mental asylum instead of the intended moment. After enduring confinement, he somehow returns to the critical point when the groom Mani had traveled to 2027 and then back to 2020, facing his alternate self and an unexpected guide who introduces himself in a mysterious way as Goundamani.
The encounter sets the stage for a dramatic debate about fate and choice. The groom Mani is urged to abandon the wedding again, while the other Mani explains the experiences from his own timeline. When Priya arrives at the mandap, she reveals she is pregnant and tells Mani that if she agrees to marry him, it will be because she believes in the truth he has shared. In a pivotal moment, Priya consents to marry Mani, and the ceremony proceeds, while Meghna’s life takes a different turn when Karthik proposes to her.
In the revived 2027 timeline, Mani stands as a successful hockey player, now a father to a daughter, and Priya remains by his side as his wife—though she often challenges him over small, human moments. The film closes with a sense of tempered triumph: the bonds of his marriage, the sacrifices of his past, and the cost of time travel all echo in a life that finally feels earned.
Dikkiloona Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Mani's troubled 2027 life” to “A new 2027: Mani as a family man”. 14 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Mani's troubled 2027 life
In 2027, Mani is a former hockey player trapped in a stressful marriage and working as an EB Lineman with a meagre salary. He clashes with his wife Priya and faces constant pressure from his in-laws about his failed sports career. This daily grind leaves him yearning for a different, brighter future.
When:2027 Where:Home and EB Line Office, unspecified city
- 2
Scientists reveal a time-travel device
Mani meets a group of scientists who are developing a time travel device. They explain that the machine can reveal how different choices would alter outcomes. Intrigued by the possibility, Mani contemplates using it to fix his life.
When:2027 Where:Science lab
- 3
Back to 2020: two days before the wedding
Mani travels back to 2020, arriving two days before his planned wedding. His goal is to intervene in his past and address the root causes of his unhappiness. He prepares to meet his past self and chart a different course for both of them.
When:Two days before wedding, 2020 Where:City, 2020
- 4
EB Mani reveals his true identity
In the past timeline, EB Mani announces his identity to the groom Mani and shares details only he could know. The groom doubting whether this is a doppelganger is convinced once EB Mani reveals things only the true Mani would know. The revelation shakes the groom's certainty about his life.
When:2020 Where:Groom Mani's home and wedding prep, 2020
- 5
EB Mani pressures to stop the wedding
EB Mani pressurizes the groom to cancel the marriage, even threatening to release a damning video. He also hands the groom an exit watch and tells him to travel to 2027 to understand the consequences of the choice he’s about to make. The groom grapples with a powerful, conflicting impulse to resist.
When:Two days before wedding, 2020 Where:Wedding venue, 2020
- 6
Groom Mani glimpses a troubled 2027
The groom travels to 2027 and is shocked by Priya's unhappy life and the lack of hockey success he envisioned. He also sees that Priya’s friend Meghna could be the supportive partner he needs. The glimpse plants doubt about the wedding and its future happiness.
When:2027 Where:2027 city, Mani's future
- 7
Groom Mani stops the wedding and proposes to Meghna
Returning to 2020, the groom decides to end the upcoming marriage and instead proposes to Meghna, a woman who seems to understand him better. This dramatic pivot reshapes both their futures and the timeline they inhabit. The decision triggers a new set of consequences for all involved.
When:2020 Where:Wedding venue, 2020
- 8
EB Mani in a changed 2027 timeline
In the new 2027 timeline, Mani experiences success as a hockey player but faces a pending divorce from Meghna. Meghna is portrayed as pampered and fame-hungry, which strains their relationship and Mani's career. He begins to regret the path he has followed after altering the past.
When:2027 Where:2027 timeline, Mani's home
- 9
Meghna's influence and Priya's stance
Mani attempts to reconnect with Priya, who is now working as a waitress. Priya apologizes for forcing the marriage and reveals guilt about events around their wedding, including an abortion, which adds emotional weight to Mani's resolve to set things right. The reconciliation feels fragile but possible.
When:2027 Where:Priya's workplace, 2027
- 10
A risky plan: return to 2020 fails
Deciding to restore the original timeline, Mani and Albert attempt another time jump back to 2020. One of the scientists, angered by Mani's self-serving use of the device, tampers with the machine. The tampering throws Mani into a mental asylum instead of the intended timeline shift.
When:Post-attempt, present Where:Time travel lab and mental asylum
Show the other 4 events of Dikkiloona Hide the last 4 events
- 11
The asylum escape and timeline convergence
After a period of struggle in the asylum, Mani arrives at a moment where the groom Mani has been sent to 2027 and will return to 2020. Mani encounters his alternate selves and Groundamani, and they must decide how to proceed to stabilize the timelines. The encounter forces them to confront the consequences of their choices.
When:Return to 2020/2027 crossroad Where:Mental asylum and lab, present
- 12
Priya's pregnancy and the wedding decision
During a tense moment at the mandap, the truth about Priya's pregnancy is revealed. The newfound information softens the resistance to marrying for a second time, and Priya approaches the mandap ready to commit to Mani if the truth is respected. The couple chooses honesty and trust as their guiding principle.
When:Just before wedding Where:Mandap, 2020
- 13
Final reconciliation and marriage
Priya and Mani finally marry in 2020, choosing to trust each other and build a life together. EB Mani and the other version fade from the foreground as Meghna's arc continues separately with Karthik. The timeline stabilizes with the couple's commitment and a hopeful future.
When:Wedding day, 2020 Where:Mandap, 2020
- 14
A new 2027: Mani as a family man
In the restored 2027 timeline, Mani is a successful hockey player and a father to a daughter, with Priya as his wife. She sometimes scolds him for trivial reasons, but their bond remains strong. The couple navigates life with a renewed sense of partnership, suggesting the changes to the past have reshaped their present.
When:2027 Where:2027 timeline, Mani's home
Who Are the Main Characters in Dikkiloona?
10 characters, among them Mani (ex-hockey player) / EB Mani, Albert Einstein and Priya: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Mani (ex-hockey player) / EB Mani
Played by Santhanam
An ex-hockey player who now works as an EB Lineman, Mani carries a tense, stress-filled marriage. He discovers time travel with the help of Albert and uses it to glimpse alternate futures, hoping to fix his life before the wedding. His actions reveal a determined, sometimes impulsive nature that tests his commitments. He embodies the conflict between desire for control and the consequences of changing fate.
- 🏑 Athlete
- 💑 Marriage Tension
- ⏳ Time Traveler
-
Albert Einstein
Played by Yogi Babu
A cleaner on a team of scientists who are developing the time travel device, Albert acts as the practical, witty guide to Mani’s plans. He understands the device and the science behind it, while providing comic relief. He helps Mani navigate the ethical and practical twists of changing timelines. His role anchors the tech-driven premise of the story.
- 🧼 Cleaner
- 🧠 Scientist Ally
- P
Priya
Played by Anagha
Priya is Mani’s partner whose wedding to Mani becomes the central hinge of the plot. She faces pressure about the marriage and later reveals she is pregnant, adding emotional weight to the decisions around the ceremony. Her perspective evolves as timelines shift, shaping the final outcome of the relationship.
- 💍 Fiancée
- 💖 Romantic Pressure
- M
Meghana
Played by Shirin Kanchwala
Meghana appears in the altered future as a supportive partner who has already divorced her husband, Karthik. She embodies a modern, independent arc that contrasts with the past timeline, illustrating how a single choice can redefine a relationship’s trajectory. Her presence deepens the film’s exploration of love, loyalty, and personal growth.
- 💔 Ex-wife
- 📱 Social Media Presence
- K
Karthik
Played by Shah Ra
Meghana’s ex-husband, portrayed as unworthy of Meghana’s new path in the future timeline. His role underscores how past relationships can reverberate through altered timelines and affect present decisions. He represents a foil to Mani’s evolving story and Meghana’s new life.
- 💔 Ex-husband
- PF
Priya's Father
Played by Chitra Lakshmanan
Priya’s father is a protective figure who weighs his daughter’s happiness against family expectations. His presence grounds the wedding in filial duty, creating tension around whether the union should proceed. He embodies parental concern amid the film’s time-bending choices.
- 👨👧 Father
- 🛡️ Protector
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Doctor
Played by Rajendran
A scientist who becomes a catalyst in the time-travel plot, the Doctor’s actions are pivotal when the time device is tampered with. His impatience and resentment complicate Mani’s attempts to fix the timeline. He embodies the fraught ethics of experimental science in a personal drama.
- 🧑⚕️ Doctor
- 🧪 Scientist
- N
Narrator
Played by Nizhalgal Ravi
Nizhalgal Ravi’s Narrator guides the audience through the unfolding timelines, providing context and foreshadowing. The narration frames the moral questions the film raises about fate and choice. It helps connect the parallel futures with Mani’s present decisions.
- 🗣️ Narrator
- SS
Scientist Stanford
Played by Arun Alexander
A scientist involved with the time travel project, Stanford adds to the technical texture of the story. His role intersects with Mani and Albert as the device’s operation becomes a focal point of action and consequence. He embodies the scientific frontier driving the plot.
- 🧪 Scientist
- 🧠 Innovator
- P
Pappu
Played by Prashanth Rangaswamy
Pappu is mentioned as Meghana’s boy bestie in cast notes, representing Meghana’s social circle in the timeline. While not central to the core conflict, his presence emphasizes the social dynamics surrounding Meghana in the altered future. He adds color to Meghana’s life outside the primary romantic arc.
- 👦 Friend
- 👥 Social Circle
Where and When Is Dikkiloona Set?
When Dikkiloona takes place (2020, 2027), and why the period matters to the story.
When
2020, 2027
The story shifts between the present year 2020, when Mani discovers a time travel possibility, and a future year 2027 that reveals the outcomes of altered choices. A team of scientists, with Albert helping, works on a time travel device that lets characters glimpse alternate lives. These timelines show how actions in the present ripple into personal and professional futures. The experiment explores the cost and payoff of trying to rewrite one’s life.
What Are the Themes of Dikkiloona?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Time Travel, Fate vs Free Will and Relationships.
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01
Time Travel
Time travel is the engine of the plot, driving Mani to jump between 2020 and 2027. The device exposes how small actions can cascade into radically different lives for those involved. The story uses these shifts to measure whether changing the past can truly improve the future. The ending suggests that earned outcomes come with a price.
-
02
Fate vs Free Will
The film asks whether destiny is fixed or shapeable by our choices. Mani’s decisions—whether to stop the wedding or pursue Meghana—trigger alternate timelines. A mysterious guide and the consequences of each change fuel the debate about predestination. The resolution implies that personal agency influences fate, but not without trade-offs.
-
03
Relationships
Marriage and partnership sit at the story’s core, tested by time travel and emotional pressure. Priya’s pregnancy and Meghana’s complex life arc complicate loyalties and expectations. Mani’s career and personal life intersect with the choices he makes about love and commitment. The narrative frames romance as the human anchor amid sci-fi twists.
-
04
Family and Sacrifice
The timelines demand personal sacrifices, from confronting a halted wedding to risking a future with loved ones. Priya’s truth about pregnancy and Meghana’s divorce highlight what family costs in the pursuit of a better life. Mani’s dual existence as a time traveler and husband underscores that family decisions shape destiny. The tale ends with family stability earned through difficult choices.
What Kind of Film Is Dikkiloona?
Bittersweet in tone, with variable pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A comedic but ultimately bittersweet time-travel romance that explores the profound consequences of regret and the complex, earned joy of finally getting your life right.
- reflective
- regretful
- hopeful
- tense
- thought-provoking
- romantic
- time travel
- marriage
- regret
- fate vs free will
Content notes: mental asylum confinement.
Quiz
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