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Arishadvarga (2019) movie poster

Timeline

Arishadvarga (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 135 mins · Kannada
Echo score 70
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Directed by
Arvind Kamath
Starring
Avinash, Sudha Belawadi, Samyukta Hornad, Mahesh Bung, Anju Alva Naik

This neo-noir film follows an aspiring actor whose life takes a dark turn when he accepts a mysterious assignment from an anonymous client. The reward for his involvement is an unexpected and disturbing gift: a murder and a witness to the crime. He finds himself entangled in a complex web of secrets and danger as he navigates the unsettling situation.

Crime Mystery Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Arishadvarga
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Arishadvarga Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Arishadvarga (2019) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Anish accepts anonymous gift from Manasaa

    In present-day Bangalore, Anish, an aspiring actor who doubles as a gigolo, is broke and desperate. He accepts a mysterious arrangement from a wealthy anonymous client named Manasaa. She invites him to her place, and he discovers that the 'gift' she wants him to handle is a murder, pulling him into a dangerous cover-up.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Bangalore

  2. Discovery of the murder and a dangerous assignment

    Anish arrives at Manasaa's place and learns that the 'gift' is disposing a murdered body. The victim is film producer and quarry owner Manjunath Bhat. This discovery drags Anish deeper into a web of crime and fear as he becomes an unwilling participant in the cover-up.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Manasaa's residence

  3. Shruthi's audition turns deadly

    Shruthi, an aspiring actress, is invited to Manjunath's home for an audition and becomes entangled in the same murderous scheme. She and Anish are ordered by a VOIP call to dispose of the body quickly, drawing them further into danger. The trio's attempt to escape only makes the situation more precarious.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Manjunath's home

  4. The invisible facilitator joins the crime

    A petty thief cum auto-driver arrives at the murder house to pilfer, and ends up becoming part of the cover-up. He helps hide or move evidence, and later guides the police to the murder house, exposing the crime to authorities. His presence ties the criminals to law enforcement and complicates the investigation.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Murder house

  5. The investigation begins

    Inspector Ashok leads the investigation, supported by Rajanna, while living a solitary life. They begin to piece together the suspects and timelines surrounding the murder. The case gravitates toward Manjunath, Kruthi, and Anish as new testimonies emerge and motives surface.

    When
    Days after murder
    Where
    Bangalore police headquarters / crime scene

  6. Kruthi reveals her backstory

    Kruthi Bhat, Manjunath's second wife, explains to Ashok the couple's love story and marriage, and how Anish came to be involved as a common friend. She describes how Manjunath had asked Anish to help Kruthi become pregnant in exchange for a hero role in his production. Her testimony shapes the investigation's early direction, even as tensions remain.

    When
    During interrogation
    Where
    Ashok's interview room

  7. Karthik's introduction and the pregnancy

    Ashok's lead is challenged when Karthik, a man who works for Manjunath, is introduced. Kruthi begins to develop feelings for Karthik, and she becomes pregnant from their illicit relationship. The pregnancy raises the stakes and threatens to expose more secrets.

    When
    During investigation
    Where
    Manjunath's circle / Kruthi's home

  8. Manjunath's exploitation and murder threat

    Manjunath learns of Kruthi's relationship with Karthik and tries to exploit it by threatening her with an intimate video. In a heated quarrel, Kruthi kills Manjunath. The murder cements Kruthi's fragility and redraws the investigation's lines.

    When
    During confrontation
    Where
    Manjunath's home

  9. Kruthi's plan to frame Anish

    Kruthi hatches a plan to frame Anish as the murderer by inviting him to her house via a call, with the number provided by a high-end pimp. Anish is lured into the murder house and becomes the focal point of the police investigation. The ruse deepens the web of deception surrounding the case.

    When
    Soon after Manjunath's death
    Where
    Kruthi's home

  10. Ashok silences a witness

    Ashok becomes aware of Karthik and Kruthi's illicit relationship and uses this knowledge to further his own ends. He murders Karthik in a quarry to silence a potential witness, then moves into Kruthi's home and starts a new life there. The act marks a chilling turn in the detective's moral ambiguity.

    When
    After Karthik's murder
    Where
    Quarry; Kruthi's home

  11. A call from Manasa hints at a sequel

    Near the end, Ashok receives a call from Manasa, who appears to be Manjunath's first wife living abroad. The call leaves the case open and hints at deeper connections and a potential sequel.

    When
    Ending
    Where
    Ashok's location

  12. Open-ended ending

    The film closes on an unsettled note with unresolved loyalties and dangerous secrets still in play, suggesting the criminals may face consequences in a possible sequel. The relationships among Anish, Kruthi, Karthik, and Ashok have all shifted, and the audience is left with lingering tension.

    When
    End of film
    Where
    Bangalore / open-ended

Last updated: November 22, 2025 at 16:00

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Timeline questions answered

Arishadvarga Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Arishadvarga (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Anish agree to help Manasaa with the body?

Anish is a struggling aspiring actor who works as a gigolo to make ends meet. When Manasaa, a wealthy anonymous client, offers him money, Anish accepts despite his instincts telling him something is wrong. His desperate financial situation is what drives him into the dangerous situation.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Anish's financial desperation, setting up his vulnerability to such an offer.

  • anish
  • gigolo
  • manasaa
  • motivation
  • money
Q2

What is the gift that Manasaa asks Anish to handle?

Manasaa's 'gift' is actually a murdered body. She lured Anish to her residence under the pretense of a romantic encounter, but revealed that she needed help disposing of Manjunath Bhat's corpse. The 'gift' was a murder cover-up, not a present.

  • manasaa
  • gift
  • murder body
  • manjunath
Q3

Why does Kruthi kill Manjunath Bhat?

Kruthi kills Manjunath during a heated confrontation after he threatens to expose her affair with Karthik using an intimate video. Manjunath had been exploiting her through blackmail, and in the quarrel, she murders him to escape his control.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Manjunath's manipulative and controlling nature toward Kruthi.

  • kruthi
  • manjunath
  • kill
  • murder
  • blackmail
  • video
Q4

How does Kruthi plan to frame Anish for the murder?

After killing Manjunath, Kruthi hatches a plan to frame Anish by calling him to her home. She obtains his number through a high-end pimp and lures Anish to the murder house, making him appear as the primary suspect in the police investigation.

Foreshadowing: The earlier setup shows Kruthi coordinating with the pimp for this purpose.

  • kruthi
  • frame
  • anish
  • plan
  • murder
Q5

Why does Inspector Ashok kill Karthik?

Ashok murders Karthik in a quarry to silence him as a witness. After learning about Kruthi and Karthik's affair, Ashok uses this knowledge to his advantage. He kills Karthik to remove potential testimony that could complicate his own schemes, then moves into Kruthi's home.

  • ashok
  • karthik
  • kill
  • quarry
  • silence witness
Q6

What is the pregnancy arrangement between Kruthi and Anish?

Manjunath asked Anish to help Kruthi conceive a child in exchange for a promised hero role in one of Manjunath's film productions. This arrangement was meant to solve Kruthi's infertility issues, but Manjunath's business troubles eventually derailed their plans.

Foreshadowing: Kruthi's backstory reveals her deep desire for a child despite the unusual circumstances.

  • kruthi
  • anish
  • pregnancy
  • arrangement
  • manjunath
Q7

Who is Manasaa and what is her connection to the murder?

Manasaa is revealed to be Manjunath's first wife who lives abroad. She orchestrates the murder and uses Anish to dispose of the body. The ending phone call to Ashok suggests she has deeper connections and may be orchestrating events from behind the scenes.

Foreshadowing: The mysterious VOIP caller ordering the body disposal hints at someone with power and connections.

  • manasaa
  • manjunath
  • first wife
  • abroad
  • connection
Q8

Why does Shruthi get involved in the murder cover-up?

Shruthi, an aspiring actress, is lured to Manjunath's home for a fake audition and becomes trapped in the same murder situation. She, like Anish, receives a VOIP call ordering her to help dispose of the body, forcing her into the cover-up.

  • shruthi
  • audition
  • murder
  • cover-up
Q9

What role does the auto-driver thief play in the story?

A petty thief who works as an auto-driver accidentally stumbles into the murder house while attempting to steal. He becomes part of the cover-up and later guides the police to the crime scene, inadvertently helping expose the murder to authorities.

  • auto-driver
  • thief
  • murder house
  • police
Q10

What does the ending phone call to Ashok imply?

The final call from Manasaa suggests she is still orchestrating events and knows about Ashok's actions. It leaves the story open-ended, hinting at deeper conspiracies and setting up potential consequences for Ashok in a sequel.

Foreshadowing: Manasaa's earlier role as the mastermind behind the murder sets up her continued influence.

  • ending
  • call
  • ashok
  • manasaa
  • sequel
  • implication
Q11

Why is Anish specifically targeted to be framed?

Kruthi chooses Anish because he already has a compromised reputation as a gigolo, making him an easy suspect for police. Additionally, his previous involvement with the Manjunath family through the pregnancy arrangement gives him apparent motive and opportunity.

Foreshadowing: Anish's earlier involvement with Kruthi and Manjunath establishes his connection to the case.

  • anish
  • frame
  • suspect
  • gigolo
  • motive

Movie threads

More Movies Like Arishadvarga, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Arishadvarga tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Bleak crime spirals like in Arishadvarga

Stories where a single choice unravels a complex conspiracy of lies. This collection features movies like Arishadvarga, where characters become entrapped in complex criminal schemes. If you enjoyed the unraveling conspiracy, moral compromise, and dark tension, explore these similar neo-noir and crime thriller stories with ambiguous endings.

  • sinister
  • suspenseful
  • corrupt
  • fatalistic
  • paranoid
  • unsettling
  • Tone: dark, cynical, paranoid
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a protagonist accepting a tempting but dubious offer, pulling them into a criminal underworld. The plot steadily builds through reveals of hidden motives and shifting alliances, creating a complex puzzle of deceit that the central character must survive, often at great moral cost.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on intricate criminal plots, pervasive moral ambiguity, and a cynical worldview where characters are manipulated by forces beyond their control, leading to a heavy, unsettling emotional impact.

Dead Reckoning movie poster

Dead Reckoning

1946
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The Maltese Falcon

1931
City of Lies movie poster

City of Lies

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The Black Dahlia

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Slow Burn movie poster

Slow Burn

2007
Manhattan Night movie poster

Manhattan Night

2016
City of Lies movie poster

City of Lies

2018
Night Moves movie poster

Night Moves

1975

Noir character studies like the protagonist in Arishadvarga

Character studies of individuals succumbing to temptation and corruption. If you were fascinated by the morally compromised protagonist in Arishadvarga, these films offer similar character arcs. Discover stories of ambitious individuals who make fateful choices, leading to betrayal, manipulation, and a heavy sense of moral consequence.

  • cynical
  • fatalistic
  • unsettling
  • corrupt
  • moral compromise
  • descent
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, fatalistic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story follows a central character, often ambitious or vulnerable, who willingly steps into a morally gray area for personal gain. Their journey is a steady descent as they are corrupted by the situation, forced to confront the consequences of their choices and the loss of their integrity.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their deep focus on a protagonist's moral deterioration. The similarity lies in the character's arc from initial compromise to full entanglement in a corrupt world, driven by a dark tone and heavy emotional weight.

The Suspect movie poster

The Suspect

1944
Cop movie poster

Cop

1988
Black Coal, Thin Ice movie poster

Black Coal, Thin Ice

2014
The Damned Don’t Cry movie poster

The Damned Don’t Cry

1950
Shattered movie poster

Shattered

1991
The Gambler and the Lady movie poster

The Gambler and the Lady

1952
Arishadvarga movie poster

Arishadvarga

2019
Jesse Stone: No Remorse movie poster

Jesse Stone: No Remorse

2010

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Every angle

Arishadvarga (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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