Antham(1992)
Antham (transl. The End) is a 1992 Indian neo-noir crime film written and directed by Ram Gopal Varma. It stars Nagarjuna, Urmila Matondkar, and Danny Denzongpa. The story follows Raghav, an orphan contract killer who falls in love with an ornithology student named Bhavana. He hides his violent identity from her, but the truth destroys their relationship. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi, with the Hindi version titled Drohi. It features music by R. D. Burman, Mani Sharma, and M. M. Keeravani. Despite strong performances, the film was a commercial failure. It is now considered a cult classic for its bold, noir-inspired storytelling.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, Eros Now, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1992
- Director
- Ram Gopal Varma
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 8m
- Rating
- 3.7/10
Storyline
Raghav is a cold contract killer who works for gangster J.P. Shetty. He falls in love with Bhavana, a sweet bird-studying student. He hides his true identity from her. But when she discovers he is a murderer, she pushes him away. Raghav must choose between his love and his violent past.
“A killer's love story ends in blood.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Antham
Cast reunions in this film: Urmila Matondkar & Ram Gopal Varma (14 films together), Akkineni Nagarjuna & Ram Gopal Varma (5 films together), Urmila Matondkar & Danny Denzongpa (3 films together), and Akkineni Nagarjuna & Danny Denzongpa (2 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first Telugu film to be shot entirely on location in Hyderabad, avoiding studio sets.
- The film's title 'Antam' means 'end' in Telugu, reflecting the protagonist's fatalistic journey.
- Director Ram Gopal Varma cast newcomer Nagarjuna after being impressed by his earlier action roles.
- The background score used unconventional synthesizer sounds, rare for Telugu films at the time.
- A key action sequence was filmed at the historic Charminar, which was uncommon in 1990s cinema.
- The film's climax was inspired by Hollywood noir thrillers, a style new to Telugu audiences then.
- It underperformed at the box office but later gained a cult following for its gritty tone.