Aranmanai 4

ABOUT THE MOVIE (ARANMANAI 4)

Aranmanai 4 (transl. Palace 4) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language comedy-horror film directed by Sundar C. Produced by Avni Cinemax and Benzz Media (P) Ltd, it serves as the fourth instalment in the Aranmanai franchise, following Aranmanai 3 (2021). The film was partially reshot in Telugu as Baak. The ensemble cast includes Sundar C, Tamannaah Bhatia, Raashii Khanna, Santhosh Prathap, Ramachandra Raju, Kovai Sarala, Yogi Babu, VTV Ganesh and Delhi Ganesh. In the Telugu version, Vennela Kishore and Srinivasa Reddy replace Yogi Babu and VTV Ganesh.

The story follows a lawyer who investigates the mysterious death of his estranged sister—initially believed to be a suicide—only to uncover the presence of a sinister paranormal entity.

The film was officially announced in January 2023 with Vijay Sethupathi initially cast in the lead role, though he later exited due to scheduling conflicts, leading Sundar C to step into the role. Tamannaah Bhatia and Raashii Khanna joined the cast in March, marking their second collaboration with Sundar after Aranmanai 3 (2021) and Action (2019). Hiphop Tamizha composed the score, with E. Krishnasamy handling cinematography and Fenny Oliver overseeing editing. Principal photography ran from March to mid-September 2023.

Aranmanai 4 was released theatrically worldwide on 3 May 2024 to mixed-to-positive reviews and went on to gross over ₹100 crore against a ₹40 crore budget, becoming the highest-grossing entry in the franchise and one of the top-performing Tamil films of 2024.

Plot

In Assam, a priest and his daughter travel by boat to a temple during a festival. When the daughter is injured and her blood spills into the river, it unleashes Baak, a shapeshifting demon. Baak kills the girl and assumes her form. The priest traps the demon’s soul in a vessel, forcing Baak to continue living as his daughter.

The story shifts to a village where Selvi lives with her husband, Santhosh, and their children, Sakthi and Saravanan Jr. Santhosh dies mysteriously in the forest, and Selvi is later found hanging in a well. After witnessing her mother’s apparition, Sakthi falls into a coma. Selvi’s brother, Saravanan—an advocate—returns to care for his niece and nephew, accompanied by his aunt. Maaya, the zamindar’s granddaughter and a doctor, is assigned to treat Sakthi. Soon, paranormal disturbances begin in the house. Maaya encounters a spirit near Sakthi’s bed and reports this to Saravanan’s aunt, who urges her to keep quiet so they can sell the palace and build a hospital. Maaya reluctantly agrees.

Saravanan grows suspicious of Selvi’s death. With help from Ravi, the village president’s son, he reviews a video showing Santhosh being stalked by a mysterious swami before his death. One night, a spirit attacks their jeep; Saravanan investigates, and during that moment, a Selvi-like spirit kills Ravi. Saravanan later finds the jeep wrecked with Ravi’s body positioned above it. Initially accused, he clears himself using video evidence. The police then help him track the swami’s hideout, where they discover photographs of recent victims—Selvi, Santhosh, Ravi, and Sakthi—leading them to suspect the swami.

Saravanan notices that Sakthi, the inspector, and Ravi share the same birthdate and a distinctive red mole. He warns Maaya to protect the children and confronts the swami. Meanwhile, the Assamese priest arrives searching for his “daughter” and attempts to approach Sakthi, but Selvi’s spirit repels him. The inspector is later killed, and Sakthi awakens from her coma, accompanied by her mother’s spirit.

Under interrogation, the swami reveals the truth: Baak, a demon capable of living on land and in water, had its soul trapped by the priest, weakening its powers. Baak followed the displaced villagers to their new settlement and eventually retrieved its hidden soul. To regain full strength, it must sacrifice three individuals born on the same date—Ravi, the inspector, and Sakthi. Baak had killed Santhosh and impersonated him to get close to Sakthi. Selvi sacrificed herself to protect her children and returned as a spirit to guard them. The swami urges Saravanan to safeguard Sakthi to prevent Baak from becoming unstoppable.

Baak later attacks the police station but is repelled by the swami. As Maaya heads to Sakthi’s birthday celebration, Selvi’s spirit stops her at the gate. Saravanan notices blood on Maaya’s coat—something Selvi’s spirit had tried to point out. Lab tests reveal that Baak had killed the real swami and impersonated him. They find the swami’s corpse in the village president’s car. The president admits that the swami had gone to the graveyard to destroy Selvi’s spirit and remains. Saravanan reaches too late; Selvi’s spirit fades away, pleading for Sakthi’s safety.

Baak returns to claim Sakthi, but Maaya escapes with her to a grand temple festival. Saravanan battles Baak inside a massive Asura statue, and during the festival’s climax, a divine force destroys both the statue and the demon.

With peace restored, Saravanan assures Maaya that the palace will be converted into a hospital so she can continue serving the villagers. Outside, the children happily play throwball with their mother’s spirit—showing she still watches over them.

Cast

Telugu version
Cameo appearance