Set in a rural milieu, the plot centres around the killing of a couple of policemen and the investigation into the crime by an officer. The happenings leading to the deaths are narrated in a flashback. The first half is laced with humour and gives a different feel. It’s in the second half that the narration stumbles, leading one to feel that the story could have been wrapped up in a more logical way.
When ATMs on deserted roads are robbed, and when a box containing the reels of an MGR film is found missing, the cops know that it was the work of the villagers of a nearby hamlet where thieving was a traditional profession. But in the village is Sidhan, a youth (Murali) who had set his heart on joining the police force. He helps the department as an informer, creating enemies on the way. Like the minister whose feathers he had ruffled. And the local cop (Das) who sets a trap for him. The first half is engaging, the dialogues sparkling. The second could have been worked out better.
Episodes like the search for a militant leader given refuge by the village elder (G M Kumar) are distracting. The ending is abrupt, could have been made more convincing. The lead pair fit in adequately. But it’s the seniors who steal the scene - like G M Kumar as the leader of the thieving community and Arul Das as the local cop. But Thoppi, despite the glitches, is refreshing and is one of the better films to have come out in recent times.