The Great Father
Samuel, who is a police officer investigates the crimes of serial child abuse and murder. He receives a phone call from a child abuser who calls himself "Joker". He however tracks his location and goes to his place, but immediately is killed by the Joker. Later, the cases are picked up by officer Andrews Eappan, from the Crime Investigation Department.
Working with a limited budget of $9.4M, the film achieved a steady performer with $9.6M in global revenue (+2% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Great Father (2017) exhibits precise plot construction, characteristic of Haneef Adeni's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes David Ninan lives a peaceful, successful life as a construction company owner with his loving wife Michelle and their young daughter Sara. The family enjoys wealth, happiness, and security in their well-appointed home.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Sara is brutally assaulted at a school event. The traumatic attack on David's young daughter shatters the family's peaceful existence and sets the entire narrative in motion.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 36 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to David makes the active choice to abandon waiting for legal justice and begins his own investigation. He decides to use his resources, connections, and determination to find those responsible, crossing from ordinary citizen into the world of vigilante justice., moving from reaction to action.
At 73 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat David discovers the attack was not random but connected to a larger criminal network. False defeat: the conspiracy is bigger and more dangerous than he imagined, raising the stakes considerably., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 109 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, David is betrayed or faces a major setback that puts him or his family in mortal danger. The antagonists seem to have won, and David's quest appears to have cost him everything. His pursuit of justice threatens to destroy what remains of his family., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 117 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. David receives crucial information or has a realization that combines his love for his daughter with the skills he's developed as an investigator. He synthesizes the father and the warrior, seeing clearly how to end this while protecting his family., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Great Father's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Great Father against these established plot points, we can identify how Haneef Adeni utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Great Father within the action genre.
Haneef Adeni's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Haneef Adeni films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.5, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Great Father takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Haneef Adeni filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Haneef Adeni analyses, see Marco.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
David Ninan lives a peaceful, successful life as a construction company owner with his loving wife Michelle and their young daughter Sara. The family enjoys wealth, happiness, and security in their well-appointed home.
Theme
A character discusses how far a parent will go to protect their child, and whether the law can truly deliver justice when those we love are harmed. This foreshadows David's transformation from law-abiding citizen to vigilante father.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to David's world: his successful construction business, his relationship with Michelle, Sara's school life, and the family dynamics. We see David as a loving but busy father, respected in his community, and living the good life in Kerala.
Disruption
Sara is brutally assaulted at a school event. The traumatic attack on David's young daughter shatters the family's peaceful existence and sets the entire narrative in motion.
Resistance
David and Michelle struggle with Sara's trauma while the police investigation begins. David debates whether to trust the legal system or take matters into his own hands. The investigation seems slow and bureaucratic while his daughter suffers.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
David makes the active choice to abandon waiting for legal justice and begins his own investigation. He decides to use his resources, connections, and determination to find those responsible, crossing from ordinary citizen into the world of vigilante justice.
Mirror World
David forms an alliance with a police officer who becomes sympathetic to his cause. This relationship represents the thematic tension between legal justice and moral justice, law versus love.
Premise
David transforms into an investigator and pursuer, using his intelligence and resources to track leads. The promise of the premise: watching a father become a force of vengeance, methodically hunting those who harmed his daughter.
Midpoint
David discovers the attack was not random but connected to a larger criminal network. False defeat: the conspiracy is bigger and more dangerous than he imagined, raising the stakes considerably.
Opposition
The criminal organization realizes David is hunting them and fights back. David faces increasing danger, opposition from authorities warning him to stop, and the psychological toll of his vendetta. His family relationships strain under the pressure.
Collapse
David is betrayed or faces a major setback that puts him or his family in mortal danger. The antagonists seem to have won, and David's quest appears to have cost him everything. His pursuit of justice threatens to destroy what remains of his family.
Crisis
David reaches his lowest point, questioning whether his vendetta has made him no better than the criminals. He must process what he's become and what he's willing to sacrifice. Michelle and Sara's condition force him to confront his choices.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
David receives crucial information or has a realization that combines his love for his daughter with the skills he's developed as an investigator. He synthesizes the father and the warrior, seeing clearly how to end this while protecting his family.
Synthesis
David executes his final plan to bring down the criminal network responsible for Sara's assault. The finale includes confrontations with the antagonists, action sequences, and the resolution of both the criminal plot and David's personal journey.
Transformation
David reunites with his family, forever changed by his journey. Where he was once a complacent businessman, he is now a father who understands the depths of his love and what he's capable of. Sara begins healing, and the family starts rebuilding.