54321

54321 is a 2016 Indian Tamil language psychological thriller film written and directed by Ragavendra Prasad in his directorial debut. The film features Shabeer Kallarakkal, Aarvin and Pavithra in lead roles, with Rohini, Jayakumar, and Ravi Raghavendra playing supporting roles.

Plot
The story revolves around five interconnected lives, all tied together by life circumstances within a single house.

A burglar (Jayakumar) breaks into a residential property. While attempting to steal money and jewelry from the homeowners' safe, he unexpectedly stumbles upon a dangerous hostage situation already unfolding inside the house. When the homeowner, Vinoth (Aarvin G.R.), returns home, another intruder named Vikram (Shabeer Kallarakkal) knocks him unconscious. Vinoth later wakes up to find himself chained to the stairs. Vikram, the intruder, reveals his identity to Vinoth and confronts him coldly.

Through a series of sequential flashbacks, it is revealed that Vikram harbors intense hatred towards Vinoth dating back to their childhood. As former classmates and childhood rivals, Vikram developed an inferiority complex and a psychotic obsession with competing against Vinoth. Vikram's path eventually led to him committing matricide and being institutionalized. Now as an adult, Vikram seeks revenge against Vinoth out of jealous rage.

Returning to the present, it is disclosed that Anjali (Pavithra Gowda), Vinoth's wife and now Vikram's hostage, is bound to a chair with duct tape covering her mouth. Vikram threatens to harm Anjali unless Vinoth agrees to kill a child hidden somewhere in the house. Vikram is determined to prove that Vinoth is morally bankrupt like himself by forcing him to commit this act.

Despite Vinoth's pleas to spare his wife, Vikram mutilates Anjali by chopping off two of her fingers when Vinoth refuses to comply. Vikram also reveals that he is holding his own father (Ravi Raghavendra) hostage and threatens to kill him unless Vinoth obeys. Unable to bear harm to the hostages, Vinoth reluctantly moves towards the child.

In a tragic twist, Vikram reveals that the child he demanded Vinoth kill was actually his own son, disguised as a girl. Anjali knew the child's true identity but was unable to communicate it due to the tape over her mouth.

Ultimately, the burglar hiding in the house intervenes, leading to chaos. Vinoth's father also joins the fray, culminating in a final confrontation where Vinoth kills Vikram by stabbing him in the neck. As Vikram dies, he defiantly declares that he will inform his deceased mother that Vinoth is just as morally corrupt as he is. Unbeknownst to Vikram, Vinoth's son remains alive. With Vikram dead, authorities arrive at the scene, and Vinoth is reunited with his wife, finally safe.

Production
Director Ragavendra Prasad relates that the concept came to him while working with Karthik Subbaraj in Pizza, and was inspired by the 2006 American-Mexican-French drama Babel. The title 54321 developed from the plot revolving around 5 people, their 4 lifestyles, the 3 murders within the plot-line, the 2-hour film length, and the 1 revenge within the tale. During July 2015, the filming was reported as then being in progress. Joshua Sridhar composed the film's music.

Music
The music was composed by Joshua Sridhar and was released at an event held at Prasad Lab, Chennai, on 31 April 2015.

Reception
The film's released trailer received mixed response, which pleased the director.

M. Suganth of The Times of India opined that "And the film, too, never truly addresses the moral question at the heart of its plot — what makes one evil and is there difference between one evil act and another". Malini Mannath of The New Indian Express wrote that "54321 is opportunity lost!"