Ardh Satya

The film opens at a party where Anant Welankar, a sub-inspector with Bombay police, meets Jyotsna Gokhale, a lecturer at a local college. They exchange sharp words about ideology but quickly feel a spark, and their friendship deepens into a romance. The bond between them sets up a personal stake for Anant as the story unfolds.

Anant brings diligence and an idealistic sense of justice to his beat, determined to do right by ordinary people. He operates in a city where crime bosses, corrupt politicians, and compromised cops collude, giving him limited authority. The clash between his ethics and the system becomes a defining struggle.

Anant arrests three common thugs and refuses Rama Shetty's overtures to intervene on his men. Rama Shetty, a local mafia don, observes him closely, realizing this cop could become a problem. The don's quiet attention marks the start of a long, looming pressure on Anant.

A meek slum resident lodges a complaint about thugs harassing his wife, and Anant tracks them down and administers a severe beating. The fallout draws the attention of a local MLA who calls for Anant's suspension. The incident exposes the corrupt nexus between police, politicians, and crime.

Anant's boss, Inspector Haider Ali, explains that the ruffians were the MLA's hired muscle for elections and rallies. He warns that tribunals are often delayed or rigged, and a suspension could end Anant's career. Anant remains defiant, aware of the peril but unwilling to compromise his conscience.

To manage the fallout, Desai—a mediator with connections in Delhi—enters the picture and quietly helps shield the politicians and criminals. Desai invokes higher powers to keep the case brushed under the rug. The episode unsettles Anant and shakes his faith in fair process.

Anant recalls his childhood, where his father retired as a village constable and was violent, quick to strike his wife. He remembers feeling powerless to intervene and contrasts this with his own decision to pursue education and a career in policing. The memory underscores the personal cost of his ideals.

Anant discovers a Rama Shetty henchman badly beaten, burnt, and left for dead. He brings the man to the hospital and takes his statement, naming Rama Shetty and others as the culprits. He confronts Rama Shetty with intent to arrest, only to be met with calm defiance from the don.

A high-ranking cop immediately orders Anant to back off, effectively blocking the arrest. Anant feels humiliated as the power of Rama Shetty's influence overrides his efforts. Haider Ali's warnings echo as the system confirms its grip on the case.

Rama Shetty plans to run for city council during the upcoming municipal elections and needs police protection for his campaign rallies. Anant is horrified by the entanglement of policing with a political candidate, and the strain jeopardizes his relationship with Jyotsna. The assignment marks another erosion of his idealistic stance.

Anant leads an assault team to capture a dangerous bandit in the hills outside Mumbai, but the credit goes to another officer. The humiliation compounds his sense of injustice and fuels a growing drinking problem. His relationship with Jyotsna deteriorates further as he confides his distress to her.

A small-time thief is brought in, and Anant, drunk and furious, administers a brutal beating that proves fatal. He is suspended and charged with excessive force, a blow to his career and conscience. Haider Ali withdraws support, and Desai hints that Rama Shetty's help might still resolve the matter, signaling a political fix in play.

Anant visits Rama Shetty in his betting den, and the two men face off. Rama offers an alliance in exchange for power, but Anant murders him in a brutal, decisive act. The film ends with Anant turning himself in to the authorities.