A Common Man (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A bomber forces police to confront both an immediate terrorist threat and the anger produced by violence left unanswered.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Ordinary Mask

A series of bombings devastates the city before The Man approaches police with a seemingly mundane lost-wallet report. The ordinary encounter begins to expose a carefully prepared threat.

Key Events

• City Bombings Begin — A series of bombings kills and injures people across the city. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Colombo
• The Man Reports Wallet — The seemingly ordinary man approaches police to report a lost wallet. Characters: The Man Location: Police station
• Bomber Revealed — The ordinary visitor is revealed to have planted the bombs. Characters: The Man, DIG Location: Colombo
• Ultimatum Reaches DIG — The Man contacts DIG and begins issuing demands. Characters: The Man, DIG Location: Police command center

The Police Station Deadline

The Man contacts DIG and claims that a bomb is hidden at a police station. When the bomb squad cannot safely disarm it, his remote instructions reveal the precision of his plan.

Key Events

• Ultimatum Reaches DIG — The Man contacts DIG and begins issuing demands. Characters: The Man, DIG Location: Police command center
• Skyscraper Control Station — The Man monitors televised coverage from a prepared control station. Characters: The Man Location: Skyscraper
• Police Station Bomb Threat — The Man claims that another bomb is hidden at a police station. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police station
• Disarmament Deadline — The threat comes with a deadline, forcing authorities into a race against time. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police station
• Bomb Squad Fails — The bomb squad cannot safely disarm the device. Characters: The Man, DIG Location: Police station
• Remote Instructions — The Man gives instructions that demonstrate his knowledge of police movements. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police station

The Prisoner Demand

The Man demands that four imprisoned militants be assembled, including one held at an undisclosed secure location. DIG and IP Mohideen investigate the prisoners while The Man tracks their actions through the media.

Key Events

• Remote Instructions — The Man gives instructions that demonstrate his knowledge of police movements. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police station
• Four Prisoners Demanded — The Man demands that four imprisoned militants be brought together. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police command center
• Prisoner Locations Investigated — DIG and IP Mohideen work to identify and locate the prisoners. Characters: DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police command center
• Hidden Prisoner Located — Authorities address the demand involving a prisoner held under heavy security. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Undisclosed secure location
• Media Surveillance Continues — The Man uses media coverage to track the authorities' actions. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Skyscraper and police command center

The Runway Ultimatum

The authorities are ordered to take the prisoners to an airport runway and place them aboard a small aircraft. One prisoner is expected to fly, while the police continue searching for the source of the calls.

Key Events

• Media Surveillance Continues — The Man uses media coverage to track the authorities' actions. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Skyscraper and police command center
• Airport Runway Ordered — The Man orders the prisoners to be taken to an airport runway. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Airport runway
• Small Aircraft Required — He requires the prisoners to board a small aircraft. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Airport runway
• Former Pilot Identified — One prisoner is expected to fly the aircraft because he was formerly a pilot. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Airport runway
• Authorities Follow Orders — Authorities follow the instructions while trying to prevent more casualties. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Airport runway
• Call Source Pursued — The police continue trying to pinpoint the source of The Man's calls. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police command center

A Citizen's Anger

The Man denies religious and political motives and argues that unanswered violence gives ordinary citizens the right to become angry. He recalls missing a train whose young passenger died in a bombing, and the supplied account ends with the standoff unresolved.

Key Events

• Call Source Pursued — The police continue trying to pinpoint the source of The Man's calls. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Police command center
• Ordinary Citizen Claim — The Man rejects religious or political motives and calls himself an ordinary citizen. Characters: The Man, DIG Location: Telephone connection
• DIG Accuses Terrorism — DIG argues that The Man is terrorizing the city through his own actions. Characters: The Man, DIG Location: Telephone connection
• Train Survivor Story — The Man recalls missing a train that was bombed after greeting a young passenger. Characters: The Man Location: Train route
• Unresolved Bomb Standoff — The supplied account ends during the standoff, before the bombs' fate is resolved. Characters: The Man, DIG, IP Mohideen Location: Colombo

Story Breakdown

• Citywide Bombing Setup — The film opens with devastating attacks that establish the emergency and conceal The Man's role.
  • Bombings Strike Colombo — Explosions kill and injure people across the city.
  • Ordinary Visitor Appears — The Man approaches police with a lost-wallet report.
• Bomber Reveals Himself — The seemingly ordinary visitor becomes the source of a coordinated threat against the authorities.
  • DIG Receives Call — The Man contacts DIG after planting the bombs.
  • Skyscraper Control Station — The Man monitors events through television coverage.
• Police Station Threat — A hidden bomb and an impossible deadline place DIG and IP Mohideen under immediate pressure.
  • Bomb Is Reported — The Man claims a bomb is hidden at a police station.
  • Disarmament Fails — The bomb squad cannot safely neutralize the device.
• Prisoner Release Demand — The Man escalates the crisis by demanding the assembly and movement of four imprisoned militants.
  • Secure Prisoner Sought — Authorities investigate a prisoner held at an undisclosed secure location.
  • Police Coordinate Search — DIG and IP Mohideen work to identify and locate the prisoners.
• Airport Runway Ultimatum — The demanded prisoners must be moved to an aircraft while the authorities try to limit further casualties.
  • Aircraft Boarding Ordered — The Man orders the prisoners to board a small aircraft.
  • Former Pilot Required — One prisoner is expected to fly because he was formerly a pilot.
• Justice And Anger — The confrontation shifts from logistics to the moral argument behind The Man's actions.
  • Ordinary Citizen Defense — The Man rejects religious and political allegiance.
  • Train Bombing Memory — He recalls missing a train whose young passenger died in a bombing.

Directed by

Chandran Rutnam

Key Cast

• Ben Kingsley — The Man
• Ben Cross — DIG
• Patrick Rutnam — IP Mohideen
• James Koch — IP Ranjan
• Numaya Siriwardena — Dilky