Custody is a gripping Indian period political action thriller film directed by Venkat Prabhu, marking his Telugu directorial debut. Produced by Srinivasa Chitturi under Srinivasaa Silver Screen and Anji Industries, the movie stars Naga Chaitanya, Krithi Shetty, Arvind Swamy, Priyamani, R. Sarathkumar, and Sampath Raj. It was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil languages.
The film released theatrically on May 12, 2023, receiving mixed reviews from critics and underperforming at the box office.
Plot:
Set in 1998, Custody follows A. Shiva, a carefree police constable, and his girlfriend Revathi, a driving instructor, as they plan to elope and get married. However, Shiva becomes involved in a road rage incident that leads to the arrest of Rajasekhar alias "Raju," a notorious gangster working for CM Dakshayani and her political party. In custody, Raju reveals crucial information about Dakshayani's involvement in a orchestrated bomb blast, aiming to overthrow a regional government. Shiva, along with CBI officer George, must produce Raju in court within 48 hours to expose the truth.
Meanwhile, Dakshayani discovers Raju's arrest and assigns goons and IG Nataraj to eliminate him. Shiva thwarts their attack and escapes with Raju and George. The trio embarks on a journey to Bangalore, with Revathi joining them. Nataraj relentlessly pursues them, leading to a car chase that ends with their vehicle falling into a lake near a dam. Surviving the ordeal, they seek refuge in the dam's underground tunnel, where George is killed during an encounter with Nataraj. Shiva, Revathi, and Raju manage to escape and seek medical assistance for Raju's injuries. However, the hospital is under surveillance by Nataraj's men.
Later, they find refuge with Maj. Gen. Philips Satya Raj, where Raju undergoes surgery. The trio is then escorted by Varghese's team, but they are surrounded by Nataraj and his goons. Shiva and Raju fight back, with assistance from Philip, and manage to escape. Tragically, Shiva's father sacrifices his life to save them. Shiva, Raju, and Revathi board a train to Bangalore, pursued by Nataraj and his men. A fierce battle ensues, resulting in Raju sacrificing himself to save Shiva. In court the next day, Shiva presents Raju's recorded confession, leading to the arrest of Dakshayani, Nataraj, and other involved officers. The film concludes with Shiva and Revathi planning for their upcoming marriage.
About:
- Genre: Thriller, Action, Drama
- Director: Venkat Prabhu
- Writers: Venkat Prabhu, Abburi Ravi
- Cast: Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, Krithi Shetty, Arvind Swami, Priyamani, Sarath Kumar, Vennela Kishore
- Release: May 12, 2023
The post-theatrical streaming rights of the film were acquired by Amazon Prime Video. It premiered on the platform on June 9, 2023, featuring the Telugu and Tamil versions, as well as dubbed versions in Malayalam and Kannada.
The film's soundtrack, owned by Junglee Music South, features a collaboration between Ilaiyaraaja and Yuvan Shankar Raja. The first single, "Head Up High," was released on April 10, 2023, followed by "Timeless Love" on April 23, 2023. The third single, "Ammunni Rukkumanee" in Telugu and "Ammani Rukkumani" in Tamil, was released on May 17, 2023, after the film's release. The fourth single, "Annadhammulante" in Telugu and "Ettu Thesa" in Tamil, was released on May 24, 2023, post-release.