Rowthiram Full Story Explained (2011)
Rowthiram is a 2011 Tamil action drama about a young man named Shiva who cannot control his anger when he sees injustice. Directed by newcomer Gokul, the film stars Jiiva as Shiva and Shriya Saran as Priya. Shiva learns Kalaripayattu from his grandfather and grows up believing he must fight evil. But his violent nature destroys his relationships and puts his family in danger. The movie asks a tough question: is it right to fight for others if it hurts the people you love? The film got mixed reviews but Jiiva and Shriya's performances were praised. The ending was even changed after release because audiences wanted a happier finish.
A boy trained to fight
In the 1990s, young Shiva learns Kalaripayattu from his grandfather. His grandfather tells him to always be bold and fight against evil. Shiva takes these words to heart. He grows up believing that violence is the answer to injustice. This belief shapes his entire life.
Full Plot
Rowthiram begins in the 1990s with young Shiva learning Kalaripayattu from his grandfather. His grandfather teaches him to be bold and fight against all evil. Shiva grows up with these words as his guide. But his parents Udaya Murthy and Lakshmi want him to lead a peaceful life. Shiva gets arrested after fighting Guna, a law student who is part of Gowri's gang. Priya, a law student and the daughter of a police officer, bails him out. She falls for Shiva after seeing him fight for good causes. Shiva also falls for her.
Guna wants revenge on Shiva for humiliating him. He wants Shiva dead. Things get worse when Shiva goes to a bus stop with his friend. There, Gowri and his men kidnap a young girl. Shiva fights them and hits Gowri. Gowri becomes furious and wants Shiva dead at any cost. Shiva's family stops talking to him because of his violent behavior. He insists that what he did was for the good of others.
Shiva's sister Kavitha marries Ramanujan without telling him. His brother Ashok also marries his longtime love without Shiva's knowledge. Shiva feels shocked and shattered. He realizes that his presence makes things dangerous for his family. He packs his grandfather's photo and leaves home. Kavitha, who is a lawyer, helps Shiva escape when the police catch him.
Priya's father and Udaya Murthy try to convince Shiva to stop fighting. They tell him his anger ruins his life and puts Priya in danger. Priya's father receives a message that Gowri was arrested but escaped. The police shot Gowri down. Priya's father goes to see him in the hospital. Shiva travels with Priya's father in a car. Priya's father advises Shiva to control his anger so he can marry Priya. Shiva agrees.
Suddenly they hear a girl's voice crying for help. Shiva wants to get out of the car to save her. Priya's father stops him and tells him to control his anger. Shiva cannot ignore the cry. He jumps from the car to save the girl. The film originally had a climax where the girl was Priya and she got killed. The ending was changed after a few days. In the new ending, the girl is someone else and survives. Shiva does not change his character. He continues to help others no matter the cost.
Characters
Shiva
Shiva is the main character played by Jiiva. He learns Kalaripayattu from his grandfather and believes in fighting evil. He falls in love with Priya but his violent nature destroys his relationships. In the end, he cannot control his anger and continues to fight for others.
Priya
Priya is a law student and the daughter of a police officer. She falls in love with Shiva after seeing him fight for good causes. She supports him but also wants him to control his temper. She plays a key role in trying to change Shiva's violent ways.
Gowri
Gowri is the main villain played by Sendrayan. He leads a local gang and wants Shiva dead after being humiliated. He kidnaps a young girl and attacks Shiva's family. He is eventually shot by the police but survives.
Udaya Murthy
Udaya Murthy is Shiva's father played by Jayaprakash. He wants Shiva to lead a peaceful life. He stops talking to Shiva after his violent actions. He later tries to convince Shiva to control his anger for the sake of his family.
Shiva's Grandfather
Shiva's grandfather is played by Prakash Raj. He trains young Shiva in Kalaripayattu. He teaches Shiva to be bold and fight against evil. His words guide Shiva throughout his life.
Priya's Father
Priya's father is a police officer played by Babu Antony. He wants Shiva to stop fighting and live peacefully with Priya. He advises Shiva to control his anger. He is with Shiva when they hear a girl's cry for help.
Themes
The cost of anger
Shiva's anger drives him to fight for justice but destroys his family. His parents stop talking to him. His siblings marry without telling him. He has to leave his home to protect them. The film shows that uncontrolled anger has a heavy price.
Fighting for others
Shiva cannot stand by when he sees injustice. He fights kidnappers and bullies even when it puts him in danger. His grandfather taught him to fight evil. The film asks if it is right to help others if it hurts the people you love.
Family vs duty
Shiva's family wants him to be peaceful. But his duty to fight evil pulls him away from them. He chooses his duty over his family. The film shows the painful conflict between personal responsibility and family expectations.
Can people change?
Shiva tries to control his anger for Priya. He agrees to stop fighting. But when he hears a girl in trouble, he cannot help himself. The film suggests that some people are born with a nature they cannot change.
Ending Explained
In the final scenes, Shiva is traveling with Priya's father in a car. Priya's father tells him to control his anger so he can marry Priya. Shiva agrees to change. But then they hear a girl screaming for help. Shiva wants to jump out of the car to save her. Priya's father stops him and reminds him to control his anger. Shiva cannot ignore the cry. He jumps from the car and runs to help the girl. The original ending had the girl as Priya, and she was killed. But after audience feedback, the ending was changed. In the new version, the girl is someone else and survives. Shiva does not change his character. He continues to fight for others no matter what. The emotional impact is clear: Shiva's fury is part of who he is. He will always choose action over safety. The director leaves the audience with the message that some people are born to fight, and no amount of love or advice can change that.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Rowthiram is not based on a true story. It is a fictional action drama written and directed by Gokul. The story was created for entertainment purposes.
The original ending had Priya getting killed by rowdies. Audiences did not like this sad ending. The filmmakers changed it after a few days. In the new ending, a different girl is in danger and survives.
The soundtrack was composed by Prakash Nikki. The song 'Maalai Mangum Neram' became very popular. The background score and an extra song in the climax were composed by Mohanji.
Shiva learns Kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art. His grandfather trains him in this art. It shapes his belief that he must fight against evil.
Rowthiram received mixed reviews from critics. The performances of Jiiva and Shriya were praised. In the UK, the film collected ₹10.75 lakhs in two weeks. Overall, it was not a major box office success.