Vikram (1986 Tamil film)

Plot

On 15 March 1984, Ashraf Hussain, Francis Adaikalaraj, RD Bohra are convicted for 20 years imprisonment for their involvement in various anti-national activities. Being unremorseful, the convicts play Chinese Chequers whilst the judge sentences them. Approaching the escort van, one of the convicts boisterously rebukes at press of becoming free soon.

The very next day, a nuclear-capable ICBM, AgniPutra is being dispatched from an unknown location to Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota only to be stolen en route by Sugirtharaja (Sathyaraj) and his henchmen. Back in Head Quarters (HQ), a visibly distraught panel of ministers and military top brass led by Rao (Charu Hasan) mulls over the dangerous prospects of the missile falling into terrorists' hands and finally pick Commander Arun Kumar Vikram (Kamal Haasan), to locate the AgniPutra with some resentment. Secretary (T. S. Raghavendra), eavesdrop and passes informs Sugirtharaja about Vikram, who sends a henchmen (Vikram Dharma) to kill Vikram. The plan fails as Vikram's three-month old pregnant wife (Ambika), accidentally get shot point blank. Enraged Vikram returns and rebukes Rao for the costly leak and deftly exposes the mole, the secretary. After torturing, Thangaraj names Sugirtharaja as the mastermind in front of the panel, and jumps to his death without giving any further details.

Desperate to find the missile, which is designed to auto-ignite within 10 days, Rao introduces Vikram to a computer expert Preethi (Lizy), who knows the design of AgniPutra's on-board computer and its functions. Initially annoyed with Vikram's brutal ways, she mellows down eventually. Sugirtharaja's henchmen (Vikram Dharma) destroys all evidences at Thangaraj's home, before Vikram and Preethi arrives in. The ensuing chase ends at cinema theatre, playing a documentary news reel about India-Salamia friendship, where Vikram spots Sugirtharaja. Upon investigation, Vikram realises that Kingdom of Salamia discourages intel-sharing with India. With the diplomatic route ruled out, Vikram and Preethi imposing as folk artists embark along with a troupe to Salamia, ruled by Sultan (Amjad Khan).

Being saved from Snakebite by Vikram, Inimaasi (Dimple Kapadia) falls head-over-heels for him. Though Preethi is constantly put off by Vikram’s arrogance, she falls for him too. Vikram identifies the location where the missile is, also discovers that the High Priest is a mere puppet under Sugirtharaja's directions, who secretly reprograms the missile, while Preethi being caught by the guards. Preethi then siding with Sugirtharaja, pretending to be cheated by Vikram passes information to Vikram unbeknownst to Sugirtharaja. While trying to reprogram the on-board computer, he loses the information and inadvertently forays into a spa where he meets Inimaasi. His attempts to expose the priest's treason are met with sheer dissent. The sultan catches the couple, suspecting fornication and sentences Vikram to be decapitated in public. Escaping execution and vikram flees towards desert where a gun-toting Sugirtharaja and royal sentries chases him until he gives in to dehydration and left to dead, when Vikram is bitten by a black cobra.

Back at the Royal Palace, the High priest stages a coup and holds the Sultan at gunpoint. Meanwhile, Inimaasi manages to escape and finds the delirious Vikram in the desert, and nurses him. The couple then return to the palace and fight off the armed sentries while the Sultan impales the high priest. Sugirtharaja, oblivious to the fact that AgniPutra's on-board computer has been tweaked, launches of hoping to decimate New Delhi. At HQ, the Indian officials observe in despair as their computer screen shows a 2D animation of AgniPutra slowly descending upon New Delhi, only later it drifts and plunges into the Bay of Bengal, disarming automatically. Back in Salamia, the royal guards sabotage the siege and restore order.

A disillusioned Sugirtharaja forces Preethi into a glider plane and takes off. Vikram manages to board the plane using lasso through skids. While scuffling and pummeling Sugirtharaja, sets-off bomb and jumps with the only parachute backpack available strapped-on. As the plane explodes, Vikram and Preethi jump off in a free fall and reaches out Sugirtharaja and grabs his parachute, leaving him dead. Vikram and Preethi romances mid-air before reaching ground, where the princess arrives calling out Vikram, so as Preethi too and in a dilemma Vikram frivolously runs away from both.

Cast

Reception

Made on a high budget of ₹2 crore, Vikram attracted mixed reviews.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Ilayaraja. A total of five songs were composed out of which four were included in the soundtrack.

In other media

The 2016 film Iru Mugan was compared to Vikram as it featured an "ex-agent, who lost his wife as collateral damage. He's been assigned another mission only if he chose to accept it."