Kshanam 2016

Crime

Thriller

Runtime

110 mins

Language

Telugu

Made by

PVP Cinema

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Kshanam Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Kshanam (2016). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Rishi, a San Francisco-based investment banker, receives a sudden voice call from his ex-girlfriend Sweta after a long pause. They had studied medicine in the same college and once hoped to marry, but her father arranged an alliance with a successful entrepreneur named Karthik. In the present day, [Rishi] travels to India under the pretense of attending a relative’s wedding, renting a car from Babu Khan and obtaining a SIM card on his sister’s address, before checking into the Hotel Marriott. The reunion with [Sweta] is bittersweet; she reveals that her five-year-old daughter, Riya, is missing, and laments that no one, not even [Karthik], believes that Riya exists.

What begins as a personal mystery quickly spirals into a tense investigation. [Rishi] begins an informal inquiry, facing setback after setback, and drawing the ire of two African-American gangsters in the city. In a show of unexpected humanity, Babu Khan steps in to help with transporting drugs and ultimately saves [Rishi] on humanitarian grounds. Assuming the alias of a policeman named Vasanth Khanna, [Rishi] works his way toward [Karthik] to uncover the truth and learns that the couple were, in fact, childless. [Karthik] recalls that [Sweta] was attacked by two masked men before a school, and that after she recovered from a coma, she began claiming that she had a five-year-old daughter named Riya. A chilling clue appears when [Rishi] reviews CCTV footage from the day Riya disappeared; the footage shows the attackers, but there is no sign of Riya, fueling doubts about Sweta’s mental state.

Confrontations escalate as [Rishi] confronts [Sweta] about her assertions. She refuses to acknowledge the existence of Riya, and when [Rishi] notices height markings on a wall, Sweta suddenly commits suicide in his presence. The investigation is taken up by the police, with ACP Jaya Bharadwaj and Inspector Ravi Chowdary looking into the case. The complex web widens when [Karthik] and his associates are implicated in a murder at the Marriott—Khanna is killed in the process, and [Babu Khan] confesses that he saw Bobby kidnapping Riya. Bobby is arrested, but in a brutal twist, he is killed by [ACP Jaya] in self-defense while in custody. The night’s violence doesn’t end there: the murderers who attacked Babu and [Rishi] are themselves targeted, and Babu falls in the gunfire while [Rishi] watches a chilling MMS in the murderers’ phone, allegedly sent by [ACP Jaya] instructing them to kill him.

The trail leads to a farmhouse where [Rishi] finally encounters [Riya], and [Jaya Bharadwaj] reveals her unsettling motive. She had lost her own husband and unborn child in a car accident and believed that Riya was a second chance to reclaim a daughter she could call her own. She hatches a plan with [Karthik] to erase Sweta’s memory of Riya and raise the girl as her own, insisting that Sweta could never bear the truth. The plot contrives to hide Riya from Sweta, presenting a factory-made reality to punish the woman who would not let go of the past. As the truth unravels, [Chowdary] shoots [Jaya] after overhearing the conversation on the way to the farmhouse.

In the aftermath, [Karthik] is arrested and reveals a startling fact: Riya is not his biological daughter—a medical report in the past had shown him sterile. This revelation reframes the entire case and Melbourne-style emotional stakes as [Rishi] recalls his final moments with [Sweta]; they had reunited, shared a quiet moment, and made love. The story crescendos to a poignant realization: Riya is, in fact, [Rishi]’s biological child. As he closes the distance to Riya, he glimpses a portrait of [Sweta] smiling back at him, a final moment of tenderness amid a labyrinth of deception, obsession, and love.

The film leaves viewers with a careful, morally shaded portrait of desire, memory, and the lengths people go to protect or rewrite the past. It threads a mystery through family ties and personal history, challenging the notion of who truly belongs and who has the right to claim a child as their own. The narrative unfolds with careful pacing, letting tension accumulate through misdirection, sudden violence, and intimate revelations, ultimately circling back to a difficult truth: the bond between parent and child can endure even when the circumstances around them are confounding, and love can survive the most harrowing tests.

Kshanam Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Kshanam (2016) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Call from Sweta sparks a trip

Rishi, a San Francisco-based investment banker, receives a sudden voice call from his ex-girlfriend Sweta after a long pause. The call pulls him into a web of unresolved past and looming danger as he contemplates a trip to India. The moment marks the emotional trigger that sets the investigation in motion.

present day San Francisco

Travel to India and hotel arrival

Rishi travels to India under the pretense of attending a relative’s wedding and makes practical preparations, including renting a car and getting a SIM card on his sister’s address to stay under the radar. He checks into the Hotel Marriott, signaling the start of his covert investigation. The logistics underscore how far he will go to uncover the truth.

shortly after arrival in India India (en route to city), Hotel Marriott

Sweta reveals Riya missing

Rishi reunites with Sweta, who reveals that her five-year-old daughter Riya is missing and laments that no one believes she exists. The revelation shifts the pursuit from a personal matter to a troubling public mystery. Rishi resolves to investigate despite the mounting danger.

shortly after reunion India

Informal inquiry meets danger

Rishi launches an informal inquiry into Riya’s disappearance, facing setback after setback. He crosses paths with two African-American gangsters who complicate the investigation and threaten his progress. Babu Khan eventually steps in, aiding him and showing unexpected humanity.

during the informal inquiry City in India

Rishi adopts alias to reach Karthik

Assuming the alias of a policeman named Vasanth Khanna, Rishi works his way toward Karthik to uncover the truth behind Sweta and Riya. The ploy helps him gain access to new leads and confront dusty alibis. The search intensifies as old connections resurface.

as investigation progresses India

Karthik recalls Sweta's attack and Riya claims

Karthik recalls that Sweta was attacked by two masked men before a school, and that after recovering from a coma she began claiming she had a five-year-old daughter named Riya. Through this memory, the investigators begin to doubt Sweta's account and the timeline tightens. CCTV footage from the day Riya disappeared shows the attackers but not Riya.

before the school attack Near a school, India

Confrontation and Sweta's suicide

Rishi confronts Sweta about her assertions, but she refuses to acknowledge Riya’s existence. He notices height markings on a wall that hint at Sweta’s state of mind. In his presence, Sweta commits suicide, abruptly ending any straightforward truth about Riya.

during confrontation India

Police take up the case

The investigation is taken up by the police, with ACP Jaya Bharadwaj and Inspector Ravi Chowdary leading the inquiry. They widen the net as more clues surface around Karthik and Sweta’s life. The case shifts from personal mystery to a formal criminal investigation.

after Sweta's death India

Murder at Marriott links Karthik; Bobby and Khanna

A murder at the Marriott implicates Karthik and his associates, and Khanna is killed in the chaos. Babu Khan confesses that he saw Bobby kidnapping Riya, tying the missing child case to a broader conspiracy. The night grows darker as the web of suspects tightens.

night Hotel Marriott

Bobby arrested; Jaya kills in custody

Bobby is arrested, but in custody ACP Jaya shoots him in self-defense, eliminating another possible lead. The violence continues as more suspects are targeted and some are dead by the ongoing pursuit. The case becomes a deadly maze with shifting loyalties.

shortly after arrest Police custody

MMS clue and the night of revenge

The murderers who attacked Babu and Rishi are themselves targeted, and Babu falls in the gunfire while Rishi watches a chilling MMS on the murderers’ phone, allegedly sent by ACP Jaya ordering them to kill him. The sequence of betrayals and surveillance deepens the mystery. Rishi narrowly survives as the plot spirals toward a farmhouse confrontation.

night City streets / underworld

Farmhouse confrontation and Riya revealed

The trail leads to a farmhouse where Rishi finally encounters Riya, and Jaya reveals her motive: she wants a second chance to raise a daughter by erasing Sweta’s memory of Riya. Karthik’s complicity is revealed as part of the plan to hide the truth. The revelation reframes the entire case around memory, desire, and the meaning of family.

final act Farmhouse

Chowdary shoots Jaya; Karthik arrested; medical truth

Chowdary shoots Jaya after overhearing the confrontation on the way to the farmhouse, and Karthik is arrested. A medical report from the past shows Karthik as sterile, erasing the possibility that Riya is his biological daughter. The pursuit shifts as a deeper truth emerges about lineage and paternity.

aftermath Road to farmhouse / police site

Twist: Riya is Rishi’s daughter; final moment

In the wake of the revelations, it becomes clear that Riya is actually Rishi’s biological daughter. He recalls his final moments with Sweta, their quiet reunion and tender moment. The film closes on a bittersweet note as Rishi reaches toward Riya with a portrait of Sweta smiling.

ending Unknown (final moments)

Kshanam Characters

Explore all characters from Kshanam (2016). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Rishi (Adivi Sesh)

A San Francisco-based investment banker who travels to India and adopts the alias Vasanth Khanna to navigate the case. He is methodical, determined, and willing to bend rules to uncover the truth. His personal stake deepens as he discovers that Swetha’s memory of a daughter may be real, not just a fabrication.

🧭 Investigator 💼 Professional

Swetha (Adah Sharma)

Rishi's ex-girlfriend whose claim of a five-year-old daughter named Riya drives the mystery. She appears guarded and emotionally volatile, clinging to the past while facing a crisis of memory and reality. Her involvement twists as the investigation reveals the complexities of desire, memory, and motive.

💔 Ex-love 🧠 Memory

Karthik (Satyadev Kancharana)

Rishi's former ally-turned-connected figure, a successful entrepreneur whose actions become entangled in a murder at the Marriott. He is linked to the broader conspiracy and the questions of who truly controls the fate of Riya. His character embodies the drive to shape others' memories and lives for personal gain.

🕵️‍♂️ Ally 💼 Magnate

Babu Khan (Vennela Kishore)

A driver who assists Rishi by transporting materials and aiding the search. He provides a grounded, humane counterpoint to the thriller’s high-stakes deception. His decision to help is framed by a sense of loyalty and humanity rather than mere self-interest.

🤝 Ally 🚗 Driver

Jaya Bharadwaj (Anasuya Bharadwaj)

ACP Jaya Bharadwaj leads the investigation and harbors a personal motive rooted in loss and longing. She orchestrates a plan to erase Sweta’s memory of Riya and pursue a dangerous, morally gray path to reclaim a daughter she believes to be hers. Her actions reveal a chilling blend of grief and ambition.

🧭 Lead 🗡️ Complex

Riya (Baby Dolly)

The missing child whose existence catalyzes the entire investigation. Her case probes questions of legitimacy and belonging, and her fate ultimately reframes the relationships between the adults involved. The search for Riya drives the emotional core of the story.

👶 Child 🔎 Mystery

Kshanam Settings

Learn where and when Kshanam (2016) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Present Day

The action unfolds in contemporary times, with modern technology—mobile phones, CCTV footage, and digital clues—shaping the investigation. The plot toggles between Rishi's life in San Francisco and the Indian locations he visits, grounding the mystery in current-day realities.

Location

San Francisco, India

Rishi is a San Francisco-based investment banker who travels to India for a personal investigation. The story moves between a Western financial hub and Indian urban locations, including a Hotel Marriott and a countryside farmhouse. The contrast of settings heightens the thriller atmosphere and the sense of transcontinental stakes.

💼 City 🧭 Crime 🌐 Cross-border

Kshanam Themes

Discover the main themes in Kshanam (2016). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🧠

Memory & Truth

The film centers on what is remembered versus what is believed. Swetha’s memories about a daughter drive the investigation, while CCTV footage and shifting narratives raise questions about reliability. As secrets surface, the story probes how memory can both reveal and obscure the truth.

👨‍👩‍👧

Family & Belonging

Riya's existence becomes a battleground for belonging and parenthood. The mystery tests biological ties against social and emotional bonds, forcing characters to confront what makes a family. The pursuit of connection collides with secrets that redefine who belongs to whom.

🎭

Deception

Loyalties and motives are wrapped in misdirection and hidden agendas. The investigation is paved with red herrings and disguises, challenging the characters—and the audience—to discern truth from manipulation. The twists force a reevaluation of who is trustworthy and why.

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Kshanam Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Kshanam (2016). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the bustling streets of an Indian metropolis, a freshly returned expatriate finds himself pulled back into a past he thought he’d left behind. Rishi, a sharp‑witted investment banker who has built his life in San Francisco, receives an unexpected call that shatters his routine. The voice on the other end belongs to his former college love, Swetha, who implores him to come home for a reason that feels both intimate and urgent. The city’s humid heat, neon‑lit alleys, and the quiet hum of hotel lobbies create a vivid backdrop for a story that balances personal longing with a looming sense of mystery.

When Rishi steps onto Indian soil, he discovers that Swetha is wrestling with a distressing claim: her five‑year‑old daughter has vanished without a trace. The allegation drifts between reality and doubt, casting a shadow over everything she says. As he navigates crowded markets, cramped apartments, and the occasional fleeting encounter with strangers, the air is thick with unanswered questions. The tone remains taut and atmospheric, a mix of gritty urban realism and an undercurrent of suspense that keeps the audience guessing what is true and what is illusion.

Around the pair, familiar faces and new acquaintances hint at tangled relationships and hidden motives. There’s the well‑meaning yet inscrutable Karthik, a man once linked to Swetha through family expectations, and a cadre of local authorities who hover on the periphery, their presence both reassuring and unsettling. The narrative leans into themes of trust, memory, and the lengths one will go to uncover a concealed truth. In this world of half‑spoken promises and secretive glances, Rishi must decide whether to follow the familiar path of rational logic or surrender to the gut‑driven urgency that his heart and the city’s pulse demand.