Custody is an action thriller film from 2023 set in India that was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Telugu. Venkat Prabhu is the writer and director, and Srinivasa Chitturi is the producer under the banners of Anji Industries and Srinivasaa Silver Screen. Sampath Raj, Priyamani, R. Sarathkumar, Krithi Shetty, Aravind Swamy, and Naga Chaitanya—all making their Tamil film debuts—star in the movie.
The movie, which is Chaitanya’s 22nd feature film as the lead actor, was formally announced in April 2022 under the working title NC 22. The official title was unveiled in November. September 2022 marked the start of principal photography, which ended in February 2023. Editing was done by Venkat Raajen, cinematography was done by S. R. Kathir, and music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and Yuvan Shankar Raja. Custody debuted in theaters on May 12, 2023, to mixed reviews from critics who praised the performances of the main cast, the cinematography, the action sequences, the plot, and the background music while criticizing its length and predictability and calling it a box office letdown.
Plot
Shiva, a carefree police constable, and his driving instructor girlfriend Revathi made the decision to elope and get married in 1998. But Shiva becomes embroiled in a case involving road rage and apprehends Rajasekhar, also known as “Raju,” a notorious gangster who performs dirty work for Chief Minister Dakshayani and her party. In the case, Shiva also imprisons CBI George. George reveals that he must bring Raju before the Bangalore court in 48 hours because Raju has important information about Dakshayani’s role in a planned bombing at Morampudi that was intended to topple a regional party-run state government. Shiva confirms this by calling Varghese, George’s superior.
When Dakshayani hears of Raju’s arrest, he sends IG Nataraj and a few goons to kill him. The goons of Nataraj and Dakshyini attempt to kill Raju and George, but Shiva defeats them and makes off with them. When Shiva, Raju, and George travel to Bangalore, Revathi goes with them. When their vehicle crashes into a lake close to a dam, Nataraj finds them. George, Shiva, Raju, and Revathi enter the dam’s subterranean tunnel covertly, but Nataraj ambushes them and George gets killed in a crossfire. Shiva and the others flee from Nataraj and head to the hospital where Raju was hurt in the previous shootout, but Nataraj’s men are keeping an eye on them. Raju receives surgery when the three of them get to Maj. Gen. Philips Satya Raj later.
Shiva and the others are then escorted by officers on Varghese’s orders, but they are ambushed by Nataraj and his thugs. After Philips shows up and assists Shiva and the others in escaping, Shiva and Raju engage in combat with the men. Raju escapes due to unforeseen circumstances and reaches a fair, but Shiva locates him. When Nataraj shows up, he offers Shiva the life of Raju in return for his father’s. But Shiva’s father orders him to depart and take up the cause of his brother Vishnu, who was also killed in the Morampudi explosion. Then he kills himself by shooting himself.
Shiva and Raju and Revathi make another escape. The three are ambushed at the train station by Ravi, Raju’s brother, who Dakshayani bought off to kill him in return for Raju’s position. After a battle in which Raju kills Ravi, Shiva, Revathi, and Raju take the train to Bangalore. They are followed by Nataraj and his men. In the ensuing struggle, Raju leaves the compartment to save Shiva. After Nataraj kills Raju, Shiva is devastated. When Shiva presents the evidence in court the following day, it becomes clear that he had actually recorded Raju’s confession regarding Dakshayani’s role in the Morampudi blast.
Additionally, Raju admitted that Dakshayani had carried out the blasts to hide the death of an IAS officer who was looking into her scandals. Arrested are Dakshayani, Nataraj, and additional officers involved. Shiva accepts Varghese’s gratitude and the offer of a job with the CBI, but he chooses to stay in the police department. Shiva and Revathi then make plans for getting ready for marriage.
Director | Venkat Prabhu |
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Story | Venkat Prabhu |
Screenplay | Venkat Prabhu |
Dialogues | Abburi Ravi |
Cinematography | S. R. Kathir |
Music | Yuvan Shankar RajaIlaiyaraaja |
Producer | Srinivasaa Chitturi |
Cast | Naga Chaitanya Krithi Shetty PriyamaniR. SarathkumarRamkiJayasudhaVennela KishoreSampath RajJayaprakashSurya Kumar BhagvandasY. G. MahendranRavi PrakashAnnapurna Mallela RajithaKadambari Kiran |
Release Type | Theatre |
Language | Telugu |
Production | Srinivasaa Silver Screen, Anji Industeries |
Budget | 45 crore |
Box Office | 15.85 crore |
OTT Platform | Prime Video |
OTT Release Date | June 8, 2023 |