The Villain (2018 film)

The Villain revolves around Ramu, who is searching for someone whose mother's chain gets stolen by a chain-snatcher, who drops it somewhere during the chase. He meets a social activist, Seetha, who is saved by Ramu when unknown goons arrive to kill her and find his chain, but Seetha reveals it is her chain. When Ramu asks Seetha about the chain, she reveals Kaizer-Ram, who is a crime boss in Dubai and she met him in a drama, when he was travelling to Sri Lanka. Kaizer-Ram falls in love with Seetha and they meet at a temple, where he reveals that Kaizer and Ram are different people and that Kaizer is actually his best friend.

Later, unknown assassins arrive to kill Ram, and one of them reveals that Kaizer intends to kill Ram to make the Police department believe that Kaizer-Ram is dead. Seetha reveals that though she has fallen for Ram, she reveals herself as ACP Brahmavar's daughter, who wants to capture Ram to restore Brahmavar's honour. Dejected and betrayed, Ram surrenders to the police and later escapes and asks Seetha to arrive at a highway where he is caught by Kaizer and leaves in a car. Ram throws the chain and the pendrive before getting into the car. The car explodes killing Ram and Kaizer. In the present, Ramu is taken to meet Kaizer where he reveals to Ramu that Ram escaped from the explosion and is now known as Raavana in UK's crime syndicate.

At UK, Ram kills UK's underworld boss Thomas, with his friend Alex's help. Ramu leaves for UK and kidnaps Alex from the police convoy where he calls Ram and they challenge one another and a cat-mouse game ensues where Alex is killed, before Ramu tortures him to reveal about Ram. Ram comes across Seetha, who is now a call girl, but it is later revealed that she was sent by Ram. Later, Ramu reveals to Seetha that he is an orphan and meets Vishalavva, who is Ram's mother. Vishalavva reveals that Ram went missing when she and her husband Vishwanna had a fallout, who later died due to a heart stroke. Vishalavva requests Ramu to find Ram.

Ramu, who considers Vishalavva as her mother promises her that he will find Rama. Ram learns Ramu's identity and decides to confront him in Bangalore, but the minister, who supported Ram double-crosses him. Ramu returns to Bangalore and leaves for his village but Kaizer, having learnt of Ramu's agenda sends his henchman to attack him. Ram saves Ramu, who had double-crossed the minister by bribing his bodyguards and had arrived in Bangalore. Kaizer later dies due to a stroke, while seeing Ram. Ram and Ramu defeat the goons where Ramu reveals that his mother Vishalavva is alive and has been waiting to see him.

Ram refuses as Vishalavva expected him to be upright like Lord Rama, but has become Raavana and requests Ramu to tell Vishalavva that he died but before leaving, Ramu ask Rama to show Vishalavva at least once. Ramu meets Vishalavva, who doesn't believe that Ram is dead. Ram, overcome by emotion meets Vishalavva and reunites with her, much to Ramu and Seetha's happiness.

Director Prem announced new film starring Shiva Rajkumar and Sudeepa. The film is about a villager who dreams to become an actor. The film is produced by C. R. Manohar and they signed Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty in an important role that has been kept as a secret in the beginning, but the news was later leaked to the press.^[6] The film was launched by then Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on 13 December 2015^[7][8] and the first look was released in March 2017.^[9] Before the release of the first look, the movie was titled as Kali taglined Ruler Warrior. But later it was changed to The Villain taglined Ram Ravan due for some reason. The film completed a schedule and was reported to have portions in England and two other foreign countries to be shot. By then, the film fetched ₹5.4 crore as Hindi rights. Actress Amy Jackson was signed as the female lead.^[10][11] The song "Jeeva Hoovagide"^[12] from Nee Nanna Gellalare composed by Ilaiyaraaja was shot with Shiva Rajkumar and Amy Jackson in replicated costumes of Rajkumar and Manjula from the original film in a schedule where entire talkie portions were shot, except few songs.^[13][14] Later, filming the climax was completed on 1 February as per actor Sudeepa's tweet.^[15]

Arjun Janya was signed to compose music and background score for the movie.^[16]