Kid (Dev Patel), a local heel wrestler, earns his living at an underground fight club, paid to take falls while wearing a monkey mask. Haunted by his mother’s death during a brutal village raid that left his community massacred, Kid harbours a burning desire for vengeance. Ruthless spiritual guru Baba Shakti and corrupt police chief turned politician Rana Singh are his targets. Scheming and punching his way through a noble hotel and social club, fighting against systematic oppression from the elites, Kid is embodying the myth of the white Monkey.

Dev Patel’s directorial debut earned widespread acclaim for its dark, gritty tone and expertly choreographed action sequences. Drawing clear inspiration from „John Wick,“ Patel masterfully adapts the modern action thriller formula to the Indian subcontinent. Beyond its visceral thrills, “Monkey Man” has been particularly praised for seamlessly weaving sociopolitical commentary and a pointed critique of India’s caste system into its narrative fabric. (SP)