"Chithha" is a 2023 Tamil-language crime thriller film directed by S. U. Arun Kumar and produced by Siddharth, who also plays the lead role opposite Nimisha Sajayan and Anjali Nair. The movie deals with the very close relationship between Eeswaran, an employee in the government of "Palani", and his darling eight-year-old niece, "Sundari". Their idyllic life turns to calamity when Sundari is kidnapped, and this drives Eeswaran to a desperate hunt.
Sundari and her friend "Ponni", the niece of a police officer, plan to go to a forest belt near their school. But the situation takes a negative turn when Ponni, without knowing, gets into trouble. She is sexually assaulted, and suspicion is initially on "Eeswaran". As the truth comes out, he is found innocent, but the trauma remains. Shortly afterwards, Sundari goes missing, abducted by a pedophile. Eeswaran, along with the police, embarks on a tense search to rescue her. In the process, they capture a suspect, who is later revealed to be Ponni’s abuser, an auto-rickshaw driver. Seeking justice, Eeswaran takes matters into his own hands and stabs him. Meanwhile, Sundari’s abductor remains at large.
Eeswaran's girlfriend Shakthi relives her horrific past experience of being a survivor of abuse and tells him to drop thoughts of revenge. He does so and focuses on healing Sundari by taking good care of her. One year later, the police discover a burnt body; the pedophile's body who had kidnapped Sundari.
"Chithha" is an intense and emotional crime thriller that handles topics of sexual abuse, trauma, and justice sensitively. Like Gargi, it avoids sensationalism and focuses on the psychological impact on victims and families. The intense story and fine performances in the film make it an engaging and gripping watch.