Aavesham Ending Explained: Decoding Hidden Nuances in Ranga’s Eccentric Behaviour in Climax of Fahadh Faasil’s Gangster-Comedy (SPOILER ALERT)

Eda Mwone! Jithu Madhavan's Aavesham has not only been a smash hit in theatres but, even after its OTT release on Prime Video, the film continues to garner appreciation from nearly all quarters. The leading beneficiary of this praise is the film's protagonist, Fahadh Faasil (also one of the producers), whose portrayal of gangster Ranga has captivated audiences, including those who were not entirely impressed with Aavesham itself. The film also features Hipzster (Aju), Mithun Jai Shankar (Bibin), Roshan Shahnavaz (Shanthan), Sajin Gopu (Ambaan), Midhutty (Kutty), and Mansoor Ali Khan (Reddy). Actress Darshana Rajendran's mother, Neeraja Rajendran, portrays Bibin's naive yet compassionate mother. Aavesham Movie Review: Fahadh Faasil’s Swag-Show As Ranga Brings the Much-Needed Rizz in Jithu Madhavan’s Partly-Enjoyable Gangsta Comedy.

What's the plot about? Aavesham kicks off with Aju, Bibin, and Shantan enrolling in an engineering college in Bengaluru. They become targets for attack by their seniors, led by the tyrannical Kutty. In a bid for revenge, Aju suggests befriending a city gangster who can help them confront Kutty and his cohorts. Their search leads them to Ranga, an eccentric gangster always accompanied by his loyal aide Ambaan, feared and respected by all. Though the trio doesn't fully comprehend Ranga's notoriety, he assists them in seeking revenge, unaware of their ulterior motives. However, constant association with Ranga disrupts the boys' studies, making them realize he's become an addictive distraction. They must break free from his influence to focus on their studies, or risk failing their exams.

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The climax is a rollercoaster, blending humor, drama, action, thrills, and even elements of horror. Not every detail is explicitly laid out, but for those observant enough, the answers may reveal themselves. Then again, maybe not.

Warning SPOILERS AHEAD.

Why Ranga Drops His Non-Violent Stance

The climax of the film sees Ranga being betrayed by Bibi who had called up Reddy and his men to the house Ranga had allocated to them, when he goes to meet the trio there alone. The friends thought since Ranga swore on his mother's death that he would never attack anyone, it would be easier for Reddy to get him killed, and in turn, end their troubles with Ranga. To their utter shock, Ranga shows why he is such a feared person when he single-handedly defeats all of Reddy's men and kills Reddy by stabbing him repeatedly, inadvertently recreating Ambaan's story of an old exploit of him, thus proving even that story was true (including the fire behind him, thanks to his burning vehicle).

After stabbing Reddy multiple times, he even screams in the same manner he was supposed to have done when he killed his cousin.

So why did Ranga drop his non-violent stance? Let's state one fact first. It's never that Ranga has never attacked anyone after he swore on his mother's death. Ambaan himself had stated once that a drunk Ranga had wounded him during a game of dumb charades. You could argue that Ranga might have slashed him before taking the non-violence promise, but after the tense dumb charades team, Ambaan tells Bibin that he just had a narrow escape. Which could mean the promise won't stop Ranga from hurting Bibin, just like he did with Ambaan.

Furthermore, Ranga upheld his promise until that day mainly because he had people like Ambaan, Nanjappa, and his other men to carry out the dirty work. When his own life is in jeopardy, Ranga's promise is as reliable as his love for his mother—both falter in the face of self-preservation.

Why Did Ranga Spare the Kids?

Ranga's attachment to his mother is played as a riff to gangster dramas where the 'mother figure' becomes this connection for the criminal protagonist to his humanity. Bibin's KGF ringtone is an apt Easter Egg for that, but it goes beyond the Easter Egg duties - it comes to the rescue of his and his friends. Ranga's already guilt-stricken over disappointing his mother - his wavering promise of non-violence  - and we see that transition flashback scene that shows him crying when his mother leaves (and also when he may have had to kill his cousin). It is also established that he also uses his shades to hide his tears from his men.

Ranga also has no one to love him. He never had any relationships; he was surprised when the youngsters didn't want to sleep with the hired prostitutes because they preferred a meaningful relationship. He exists as a disenchanted individual, seeking validation even in the form of social media reactions to his Insta videos. Though he commands respect and admiration, the absence of love weighs heavily on him. He suspects his men, including Ambaan, of exploiting him solely for his wealth and alcohol. The revelation that even the boys have been manipulating him leaves him both incensed and crestfallen.

When Bibin's mother inquires about his happiness, it marks a rare instance of someone showing concern for him (regardless of whether it's a routine question she poses to everyone). So when she asks him in their first conversation to make sure Bibin is happy, Ranga takes it to his heart. In the climax, Ranga momentarily forgot about that in his anger. However, sorry to bring this infamous Batman V Superman scene, that call of Bibin's mother to Bibin's cell became a 'Martha' moment for Bibin and his friends, as it managed to remind Ranga of his vow to keep Bibin happy, while also stirring feelings of remorse regarding his own mother.

Would Ranga Have Killed the Boys?

Ranga is a character enveloped in ambiguity. Initially, the boys dismissed the tales they heard of him from his associates as mere tall stories. Initially, they found him both feared and amusing, much like we as viewers, unaware of the extent of violence within him. However, as the narrative unfolds, we realise that these stories hold truth, culminating in a climax that vividly portrays Ranga's capacity for violence, strength, and ruthlessness. In the past, he demonstrated callousness towards his own associates, also evidenced by his attempt to coerce the boys into liaisons with prostitutes without their consent. Aavesham OTT Release: From Fahadh Faasil’s Entry Scene, Dialogues To Fight Sequences, Netizens Call FaFa’s Film ‘A Banger’.

But then, he also showed compassion to his two runaway Hindi goons, who are given a lease of life (they are seen alive in the climax and also in the epilogue).

When Bibin expresses their desire to distance themselves from Ranga, he summons his associates to his residence within the hour. While the boys anticipate an attack (prompting Bibin to contact Reddy), Ranga later reveals his intention was merely to instruct them to sever ties with the boys.

When Ranga pursues them in a frenzy, he closes the door of the house so as to not let his men inside. This action can be interpreted in two ways: either he intends to confront the boys alone, or he seeks to intimidate them without involving his associates. Notably, Ranga exhibits remarkable accuracy when throwing objects, yet when he hurls an axe at the remorseful Shantan, it lands harmlessly on a wooden cupboard. Also, do note the last time we see Reddy, he isn't dead from the stabbings but was writing with pain on the top of his car. Which also goes for his men whom Ranga attacked. So does that mean Ranga's hits weren't deliberately fatal?

Whether he killed his relative or not is still unclear, despite the boys' discoveries. Yes, we see that relative in the same transition shot as his mother leaving while a younger Ranga is seen crying. There is a patch in the kitchen that looks like a covered pit which might have the body. But the only person who saw Ranga commit the act is no longer in his service, so this is just the film playing games with us with regards to Ranga's character.

It is upon the viewer to perceive how good or bad they want Ranga to be. The answer isn't clear, since there's nothing black or white about him, despite his clothing choices. He is all grey. All Ranga wants is respect and reverence, which is also what he wanted from the boys too. He assumes that's love.

An interesting comparison here is that Ranga and Kutty affected the boys in an antithetical manner. Kutty terrorised the trio before being 'friends' with them. Ranga was friends with them first before terrorising them. In Kutty's case, Aju, Bibin, and Shantan's ordeal was not their fault. In Ranga's case, it's entirely theirs.

Why Was Ambaan in Tears?

When Ranga anguishedly claims that everyone just wants him for his money and booze and that no one loves him, we see Ambaan with a dejected expression on his face, later even tearing up. There are two ways to interpret this. Firstly, he might be so loyal to Ranga that he couldn't bear to see his master in such pain. However, the more plausible reason is that Ambaan was heartbroken to hear Ranga include him among his opportunistic associates. It also highlights how little Ranga cares for his people's feelings or their loyalty, despite granting them so many perks.

Ambaan's dejected state doesn't last long, though, as he promptly returns to his master's service when Ranga whistles for him.

Why Did Ranga Start Wearing Black Clothes and Silver Jewellery?

By the end, Ranga had violated two of his principles: refraining from physical violence and avoiding harm to his guru. Before his demise, Reddy accused Ranga of stealing his "identity," referring to his attire—gold jewellery, white-on-white ensemble, and possibly even his moustache. This prompted Ranga, in a fit of rage before stabbing Reddy, to tear his own shirt, symbolically returning Reddy's "identity." In the epilogue, Ranga adopts a completely opposite attire, opting for black and silver. And if Reddy is alive, he might be back to wearing his trademark white ensemble that he had accused Ranga of stealing.

This change in clothing also signifies Ranga's severed ties with the three boys. If we interpret white as a symbol of peace and black as a sign of hostility, Ranga's shift suggests a shift from friendship to enmity with the trio.

Why Do Ranga and His Men Chase The Trio With Canes?

The reason the boys give Ranga for staying away from him is that they wanted to study. Ranga interprets this as their desire to excel in exams and be happy. Thus, he takes it upon himself to ensure their happiness, warning them to perform well in the tests or earn his wrath.

Unfortunately for the boys, while Shantan miraculously passes all his subjects, Bibin and Aju fail one subject. Somehow, Ranga learns of this and arrives with his men to discipline them in a classroom manner, by caning them severely. As Ambaan shouts at them while chasing the boys, even poor Shantan won't be spared because the deal was that all three should have passed the examinations. One can only wonder how the strict new college ED (Ashish Vidyarthi) would react upon seeing Ranga and his goons inside the college premises.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 10, 2024 10:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).