Once Upon a Time in Madras(2024)
Tamil121 mins
In Chennai, along the Koovam River, 9-year-old Dinesh's life ends tragically when he's shot by retired army officer Krishnaraja in a fit of rage. Confusion ensues as the police investigation fails to identify the shooter. Krishnaraja disposes of the gun in the river, but its discoveries by a few people sets off a chain of events with unforeseen consequences.
Director:Prasadh Murugan
Mood:
darksuspensefulemotional
Once Upon a Time in Madras is streaming on Aha and Airtel Xstream Play.
Where to watch:Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Aha, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 13 December 2024
- Director
- Prasadh Murugan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 1m
- Rating
- 8.0/10
Storyline
A retired army officer shoots a young boy in anger and hides the gun in a river. When other people find the weapon, it triggers a series of unexpected and dangerous events. The police investigation into the boy's death is unable to find the killer.
“A river hides a gun. A city hides a killer.”
Film Details
8.0Rating
121Minutes
TamilLanguage
ACertificate
Release Date13 December 2024
Parental Guide
Violence
High
Language
Moderate
Sex / Nudity
Moderate
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
High
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Mood
darksuspensefulemotional
Themes
justicecorruptionfamilysurvival
Tonegritty
Pacingslow-burn
Complexitymoderate
Audiencemultiplex
Best Withwith-partner
Violence4
Emotion4
Humor1
Rewatchability3
Cast & Crew
#1
#2G
Gayathri KrishnanActor
→P
Pavithra LakshmiAnitha
→#3
Thalaivasal VijayAnitha's father
→#4
K
KanihaKowsi (Special appearance)
→#5
P
Pasupathi RajMadhi's father
→#6
D
Disha GovindharajActor
→#7
S
Sini YudhanActor
→#8
S
Shaan AActor
→#9
J
Jegan KavirajActor
→#10
B
Bharath SrinivasanRaja
→#11
P
Prasadh MuruganDirector
→#12
C
Captain MP AnandCrew
→Trivia
- The film's title is a nod to the 2014 Tamil gangster film 'Jigarthanda', which also had 'Once Upon a Time in Madurai' as its original working title.
- Director Prasadh Murugan previously worked as an associate director for filmmaker Vetrimaaran, known for gritty realism, which influenced this film's tone.
- The Koovam River, central to the plot, is a real and heavily polluted waterway in Chennai, adding a layer of social commentary to the thriller.
- Actor M. Sasikumar, who plays a key role, is also a producer, marking one of his few major acting roles outside of his own production ventures.
- The prop gun used in the film was a custom-made replica to ensure safety and authenticity for the critical shooting scene.
- The film's score uses traditional Tamil folk instruments like the 'urumi' to create a tense and localized atmospheric sound.
- Despite being a thriller, the story is structured as a moral drama, exploring the ripple effects of a single impulsive act on multiple lives.