Nesippaya is a 2025 Indian Tamil-language romantic action thriller film directed by Vishnuvardhan and produced by XB Film Creators. The film stars Akash Murali in his acting debut, alongside Aditi Shankar, R. Sarathkumar, Prabhu and Khushbu. The film has music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematography handled by Cameron Eric Bryson and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. Nesippaya was released in theatres on 14 January 2025.
Plot
In 2016, during his college days, Arjun Vishwanathan fell in love with Diya Ramalingam. Their relationship is soon disrupted when Diya received a job offer in Portugal and she is prepared to relocate. When Arjun asks to accompany her to Portugal, she advised him to focus on his career and expresses her need for space in their relationship. Arjun informed both their families about their relationship, hoping to arrange their marriage before Diya’s departure. Diya resisted the idea of immediate marriage, leading to a heated argument. A misunderstanding about a delayed visa application further escalated the situation, culminating in a public breakup.
Seven years later, Arjun, now running a software startup with his friend Subramaniaraju, is shocked to learn that Diya had been arrested in Portugal for murdering Karthik Adhinarayanan, the son of a wealthy and influential businessman, Adhinarayanan. Despite their breakup, Arjun immediately rushes to Portugal to help Diya. There, he meets Diya’s mother, Geeta, and consults with Diya’s lawyer, Indirani “Indira” Jahan, to understand the case. Arjun attempts to meet Adhinarayanan to plead on Diya’s behalf but is dismissed by Adhinarayanan’s business associate, Varadharajan. Diya, overwhelmed by guilt for avoiding Arjun in the past, refuses to meet him.
In prison, Diya is attacked by a fellow inmate, Jenni, resulting in hospitalisation. Determined to uncover the truth, Arjun sought out Monty, Jenni’s lover, to gather information. Arjun had previously rescued Monty’s sister from drug peddlers, but Monty refused to provide any information, hinting instead that Vasundhra, Karthik’s mother, might be involved in orchestrating the attack on Diya. Arjun confronts Adhinarayanan prompting him to warn Vasundhra against further involvement and vows to seek justice for Diya through legal means. Indira visits Diya in prison, where Diya recounts the events leading up to the murder. After joining Adhinarayanan’s company in Portugal, Diya befriended Karthik and his partner, Avik, who kept their relationship a secret from Karthik’s father. When Avik began distancing himself from Karthik, Karthik turned to drugs, and Diya became his sole supporter. Varadharajan misinterpreted her friendship with Karthik as a romantic relationship and warned her to stay away. Diya returned to India, unaware that Adhinarayanan had arranged Karthik’s marriage to Rakhi. Upon her return to Portugal, Karthik reached out to Diya, confessing his suicidal thoughts. Diya rushed to rescue him but was beaten by an unknown assailant. When she regained consciousness, she was arrested for Karthik’s murder, with Rakhi as the key witness. Diya confides in Indira that she withheld the truth to protect Karthik’s secret.
Indira and Arjun meet Rakhi, but she provides no information. That night, goons ambush them, but Arjun fights them off. With Monty’s help, Arjun locates Avik, who reveals that Varadharajan forced Avik into hiding. Arjun deduces that Varadharajan orchestrated the events to secure his son Akash’s control over Adhinarayanan’s vast properties and suspects Varadharajan’s involvement in Karthik’s murder. Varadharajan’s men shoot Avik, and Arjun narrowly escapes. Diya learns of Arjun’s efforts to prove her innocence and apologises for her past actions. Their emotional reunion inspires Indira to reconcile with her estranged husband. Arjun attempts to expose Varadharajan’s actions to Adhinarayanan but is caught and beaten by Varadharajan’s men. He escapes with Monty’s help and obtains a gun and car to negotiate with the government. Arjun hijacks a bus and demands that Special Officer Gautham bring Diya and Varadharajan to the scene. Varadharajan hires an assassin, Martin, to kill Arjun. However, Martin follows Adhinarayanan’s instructions and shoots both Varadharajan and Arjun.
It is revealed that Adhinarayanan was aware of Karthik’s sexual orientation and had threatened Avik to stay away. Adhinarayanan had also manipulated his mistress, Rakhi, into marrying Karthik. When Karthik discovered the truth, Adhinarayanan and Varadharajan conspired to murder him and framed Diya. Vasundhra, who had learned of Adhinarayanan’s crimes through Akash, exposes him to the police. Humiliated and feeling ashamed, Adhinarayanan takes his own life. Gautham apprehends Martin, and Rakhi is arrested, clearing Diya of all the charges.
In a post-credits scene, Arjun, who survived the gunshot and was imprisoned for the hijacking, is released and finally reunites with Diya.
Cast
- Akash Murali as Arjun Vishwanathan
- Aditi Shankar as Diya Ramalingam
- R. Sarathkumar as Adhinarayanan
- Prabhu as Gautham, Special officer
- Khushbu as Vasundhra Adhinarayanan
- Kalki Koechlin as Indirani Jahan “Indira”, Portugal-based lawyer
- Shiv Panditt as Monty, Jenni’s boyfriend
- Raja as Varadharajan
- George Kora as Karthik Adhinarayanan
- Murali Satagopan as Avik, Karthik’s boyfriend
- Vikkals Vikram as Subramaniaraju “Subbu”
- Mathew Varghese as S. A. Vishwanathan, Arjun’s father
- Sriranjani as Vaidehi, Arjun’s mother
- Parvathi T as Geeta, Diya’s mother
- Prajna Ravi as Arjun’s sister
Development
In mid-April 2021, XB Film Creators announced their second project after Master under the tentative title Production No: 2 directed by Vishnuvardhan, introducing Akash Murali, son of actor Murali and the younger brother of Atharvaa.[4] Akash who had married Sneha in August 2020 is the daughter of the film’s producer Xavier Britto. Aditi Shankar was announced as the lead actress making her third venture, while she was simultaneously shooting for Maaveeran. In November 2023, Shiv Panditt who was last seen in Leelai (2012) was speculated to make his return to Tamil Cinema after 12 years for a special appearance along with Kalki Koechlin who previously worked together in Shaitan (2011). The official title was revealed in June 2024. In early July 2024 it was confirmed that Kalki Koechlin who was earlier seen in Nerkonda Paarvai (2019) and Paava Kadhaigal (2020) is seen to have portrayed a role of a Portugal based lawyer named Indira.
Music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, editor A. Sreekar Prasad, cinematographer Cameron Eric Bryson and production designer Saravanan Vasanth were chosen for the technical crew.