What Is Manthrikan About?
The premise of Manthrikan in 306 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a secluded village where the ordinary coexists with whispers of the uncanny, a lone practitioner of the dark arts drifts through his days. Mukundan Unni moves between ancient rites and the mundane, his reputation as a tantric magician and exorcist lingering like a quiet murmur among the locals. Though his father’s formidable legacy hangs over him, he treats the inherited knowledge with a casual indifference, preferring the simple company of two loyal, if not particularly bright, companions.
The rhythm of his solitary existence shifts when a mysterious woman arrives, suffering from a complete loss of memory. Malu is both enigmatic and vulnerable, and a tentative bond forms between them amid the village’s rustic backdrop. Their connection, hinted at through lingering glances and shared moments, offers a fleeting glimpse of warmth in an otherwise solitary life, before circumstances pull them apart and their paths diverge.
Years later, a summons from a prominent family draws him away from the hills to a grand manor known as Shenoy Mandir. The estate, steeped in an elegant yet oppressive atmosphere, is plagued by an unsettling presence that defies ordinary explanations. As Mukundan Unni steps into the opulent corridors to confront the lingering darkness, he encounters another woman—Malavika—who does not recognize him, adding an undercurrent of unresolved history to the already tense setting. The manor itself becomes a character, its sprawling rooms and shadowed corners echoing with secrets yet to be unveiled.
Caught between duty and lingering personal threads, he is reminded of the ancient teachings passed down through generations of his lineage. The film balances a mood of quiet dread with moments of wistful reflection, inviting the audience to wonder how far he will go to reconcile the weight of his inherited power, the mysteries of his past relationships, and the daunting task that now lies within the mansion’s walls.
What Happens in Manthrikan?
The complete story of Manthrikan, from the first scene to the last, in 476 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Mukundan Unni is introduced as a tantric magician and exorcist, quietly leading a life in a remote village while showing little enthusiasm for his father’s traditional craft. He spends time with two bumbling cronies, drifting through days that blend into one another, until fate nudges him toward a young woman who will alter the course of his path.
There, he meets Malu, a girl who carries the weight of a blank past and no memory of her origins. Despite this amnesia, she is drawn to the enigmatic stranger, and their bond deepens after a few melodious moments that bloom into romance. Yet happiness proves fragile, and the two are separated before their story can fully unfold.
Years pass, and a wealthy family seeks his help to exorcise a spirit haunting their palatial residence, Shenoy Mandir. The entity, named Rukkumani, has become a troubling presence, and Mukundan is summoned to confront it within the grand halls of the house. In a surprising turn, he encounters Malu once more, now bearing the name Chandana, but she does not recognise him. Determined to reclaim what they once shared, he vows to bring her back to herself.
Guided by his father’s teachings and the lineage of ancient thaliyolas handed down through generations, Mukundan redoubles his efforts, leaning into the old wisdom that has long governed his trade. He steps into the realm of deeper, ritual knowledge, fuelled by a growing sense that the answers he seeks lie in the heart of the ritual space known as the manthrakalam. It is here that he confronts a haunting truth about Malu’s identity and her connection to Shenoy Mandir’s troubled history.
As the mystery unfolds, Mukundan discovers the sorrowful past of Rukku—the girl from a poor background who loved someone within Shenoy Mandir. When the three brothers who rule the estate learn of the forbidden affair, they kill Rukku’s family and burn Rukku alive. Overcome by horror, her lover leaps into the flames and dies by suicide. Since that brutal night, Rukku has haunted the living as a vengeful spirit, claiming the lives of two of the brothers who wronged her.
In a tense moment, Mukundan nearly traps the restless spirit within a wooden doll, but the Shenoy family interrupts the pooja, breaking the rite and freeing Rukku once more. Possession returns as Malu again falls under Rukku’s compel, and the two are united in a terrible rupture at night when Malu (Rukku) tries to strike down the remaining brother. Mukundan acts swiftly, exorcising the spirit and freeing Malu from the malevolent hold.
With the danger lifted, Mukundan prepares to depart, not seeking anything in return for the salvation he has offered. Yet the third brother, a last gesture of fate, hands Malu back to Mukundan, tying her fate once more to the man who has walked with her through fire and memory.
Manthrikan Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Mukundan's life in a remote village” to “Closure or continuation”. 11 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
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.
When:early days Where:remote village
- 2
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.
When:shortly after meeting Where:remote village
- 3
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.
When:years later Where:Shenoy Mandir
- 4
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.
When:after vow to win her back Where:home and ritual spaces
- 5
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.
When:present Where:manthrakalam
- 6
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.
When:after tragedy Where:Shenoy Mandir
- 7
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.
When:during the pooja Where:Shenoy Mandir during pooja
- 8
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.
When:one night Where:Shenoy Mandir
- 9
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.
When:immediately after exorcism Where:Shenoy Mandir / temple area
- 10
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.
When:final moment Where:threshold of Shenoy Mandir
- 11
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.
When:after handover Where:outside Shenoy Mandir
- 12
Closure or continuation
The story closes on a note of quiet ambiguity: Malu's fate now rests with Mukundan, who bears the burden of her memory and the legacy of Rukku's vengeance. The third brother's gift ensures Malu's life remains entwined with Mukundan's, leaving room for further twists beyond the film's ending.
When:post-handover
Who Are the Main Characters in Manthrikan?
3 characters, among them Mukundan Unni, Malu and Rukkumani: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- MU
Mukundan Unni
Played by Jayaram
A tantric magician and exorcist who is initially reluctant about his father's legacy. He gradually trains in ancient techniques and uses them to confront Rukkumani, protect Malu, and navigate the boundary between love and duty. His journey blends romantic longing with spiritual obligation as he delves into a lineage of power.
- 🪄 Magic
- 🕯️ Exorcism
- 💖 Romance
- M
Malu
Played by Poonam Bajwa
A girl with no memories who falls for Mukundan. She later reappears as Chandana and experiences separation from him again and again. Her body becomes a vessel for Rukku’s past, complicating her sense of self while she struggles to recall who she truly is.
- 💖 Romance
- 🧠 Amnesia
- 👻 Possession
- R
Rukkumani
Played by Muktha George
The vengeful spirit of a poor girl who loved a man from Shenoy Mandir and was killed, her death sparking a cycle of vengeance. As a ghost, she haunts the mansion, killing two of the three brothers before Mukundan attempts to lay her to rest.
- 👻 Ghost
- 💔 Tragic
- 🔥 Revenge
Where and When Is Manthrikan Set?
Manthrikan is set in Shenoy Mandir and remote village. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Shenoy Mandir, remote village
Shenoy Mandir is a sprawling palatial house set in a secluded village. The mansion's opulence contrasts with the quiet rural life, creating a haunting backdrop for the exorcism tale. Its corridors hold secrets from a tragic past that intersect with Mukundan's journey into ancient tantric arts. The location anchors the supernatural events at the heart of the story.
- 🏰 Palatial
- 🗺️ Rural
What Are the Themes of Manthrikan?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Romance, Revenge and Supernatural.
-
01
Romance
Mukundan and Malu share a growing bond that survives memory loss and separation, driving much of the narrative. Their imperfect romance is tested by supernatural meddling and the upheavals of their past. Love becomes a catalyst for Mukundan's commitment to learning the old arts and protecting those he cares about. The relationship adds emotional weight to the film's dramatic arc.
-
02
Revenge
Rukkumani's awakening and the Shenoy brothers' actions set off a chain of vengeance that haunts the mansion. The ghost's anger manifests through possession and deadly consequences, pushing Mukundan to confront past wrongs. Revenge threads through the exorcism and shapes the fates of the living and the dead.
-
03
Supernatural
A vengeful spirit and ancient tantric rituals drive the film's central conflict. The discovery of Rukku's backstory and the use of generations-old thaliyolas create a tense, otherworldly atmosphere. Exorcism attempts and spiritual practices foreground the supernatural over ordinary confrontations.
-
04
Tradition
The story centers on enduring tantric traditions passed down through generations, which Mukundan begins to master. The rituals and manthrakalam elements link personal destiny to ancestral practices, highlighting a clash between old rites and contemporary needs. The narrative uses these rites to resolve the haunting and define characters' choices.
What Kind of Film Is Manthrikan?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Mixed
A dark and atmospheric horror-comedy that combines supernatural tension with a tragic love story, creating a steady, gripping experience punctuated by moments of dread and vengeance.
- supernatural
- vengeful
- melancholic
- tense
- gothic
- mysterious
- exorcism
- black magic
- amnesia
- revenge
Content notes: murder, burning alive, suicide, supernatural violence, possession.
Quiz
How well do you remember Manthrikan? Test yourself on the story.
