Manthrikan 2012

Mukundan's life in a remote village

Mukundan Unni is a tantric magician and exorcist who works in a remote village, not fully embracing his father's legacy. He spends his days with two bumbling cronies, taking on small tasks and learning through practice. A girl named Malu appears, suffering from amnesia, and she is drawn to him after a couple of songs.

Malu and Mukundan's budding romance

Malu forms a bond with Mukundan after the songs, and the two begin to grow close. However, their romance is short-lived, as circumstances pull them apart soon after. The memory-loss girl and the tantric exorcist part ways onto separate paths.

Years later: exorcism at Shenoy Mandir

Years later a wealthy family hires Mukundan to exorcise the spirit Rukkumani from their palatial Shenoy Mandir. He encounters Malu again, now appearing as Chandana, who fails to recognise him. He vows to win her back and uncover her true identity.

Renewed study of ancestral rites

Motivated by his father's teachings, Mukundan recommits to the ancient rites and the lineage of thaliyolas passed down through generations. He begins intense training to master these esoteric arts. This preparation sets the stage for bringing Malu back into the heart of ritual power, the manthrakalam.

Malu returns as Rukku to the manthrakalam

With renewed power, Mukundan brings Malu—revealed to be Rukku—into the manthrakalam, revealing her past to him. There, he learns that Rukku was a poor girl who loved someone from Shenoy Mandir. When the three Shenoy brothers discovered the affair, they killed Rukku's family and burned Rukku alive, while her lover leapt into the flames.

Rukku's vengeance

From that tragedy, Rukku becomes a vengeful spirit and has already killed two of the three Shenoy brothers. The ghost's rage now haunts Shenoy Mandir as Mukundan seeks to calm the unrest. This backstory explains the ongoing danger that frames the exorcism.

The wooden-doll trap and possession

Mukundan almost traps Rukku inside a wooden doll, but the Shenoy family interrupts the pooja, freeing Rukku. In the commotion, Rukku possesses Malu again, turning the living girl into a conduit for the vengeful spirit.

One night of confrontation

One night, Malu, still possessed as Rukku, attempts to kill the remaining Shenoy brother. Mukundan intervenes, exorcises the demon, and frees Malu from Rukku's hold. The threat to the family is neutralized but the danger lingers as a story of unfinished business.

Mukundan’s selfless departure

After the exorcism, Mukundan begins to depart, choosing a selfless path and not demanding anything in return. He signals a willingness to walk away from personal rewards to protect Malu's freedom. The moment marks a quiet, contemplative end to this confrontation.

The third brother's final gesture

Just as Mukundan is about to leave, the third brother intervenes and hands Malu back to him, altering the dynamic and binding their fates. This gesture shifts the momentum from vengeance to a tentative alliance between the living exorcist and Malu.

A fragile bond and uncertain future

Mukundan accepts the fragile bond with Malu, setting a path forward that blends protection with personal distance. He walks away with a sense of duty, knowing the past and its ghosts are not easily laid to rest. The ending hints at a future where they navigate love, exorcism, and memory.