Aryan

Aryan

Year: 1988

Runtime: 171 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Priyadarshan

DramaAction

Devanarayan (Mohanlal), a Brahmin priest from a Kerala village, is falsely accused of theft and expelled. He relocates to Bombay, where the aging don Kareem (Goga Kapoor) draws him into the city's criminal underworld. The film begins with a thoughtful look at Brahmin priesthood in Kerala before its narrative veers into chaotic turmoil.

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Timeline – Aryan (1988)

Trace every key event in Aryan (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Past - Devan's life in Kerala and the false theft accusation

Devanarayanan, a Brahmin priest in a poor Kerala village, is the family breadwinner and secretly in love with Aswathy. Govindan Nair and the corrupt Arumukhan oppose their relationship. When the temple's thiruvabharana goes missing, Inspector Chandrappan arrests Devan and brutalizes him in front of his family and villagers.

Past (flashback) Kerala village
2

Past - Aftermath of the trial

Devan is jailed for the alleged theft and, upon release, his father disowns him, convinced of his guilt. The shame drives him from the village to seek a fresh start elsewhere, leaving his family behind. He heads toward Bombay to begin anew.

Past (post-trial) Kerala village
3

Present-day Bombay - Martin terrorizes Devan

In present-day Bombay, Devan shares a tea shop with Kunjali and his daughter Sainaba. The city is terrorized by the thug Martin, who bullies Devan and steals his necklace. Devan defeats Martin in a later fight, catching Kareem's attention.

Present Bombay
4

Present - Devan enters Kareem's underworld

Devan rises in the underworld and becomes the trusted aide of Kareem, an aging crime boss who has suffered losses in a past gang war. Sainaba is in love with Kareem's only son, adding tension to the loyalties around Kareem's outfit.

Present Bombay
5

Present - Capture and rescue

During a Kareem mission, Devan is captured by Majeed Khan's gang and beaten until unconscious. Kareem and his secretary Nair tend his wounds and persuade him to stay loyal to the organization.

Present Bombay
6

Present - Devan and Nirmala fall in love

During Devan's recovery, he and Nirmala grow close and eventually fall in love. He also reveals the humiliation of his false imprisonment to her, deepening their bond.

Present Bombay
7

Present - Kareem confronts Devan over Sainaba's romance

Upon learning of Sainaba's relationship with Kareem's son, Kareem rebukes Devan and orders his gang to attack Kunjali and Sainaba. Devan intervenes to protect them, and Nair's jealousy begins to turn him against Devan.

Present Bombay
8

Present - Defending the arrangement

Facing Kareem's threats, Devan stands his ground and, with Kunjali's backing, argues for a future where Sainaba can marry Kareem's son. He even points a gun at Kareem to defend the arrangement, forcing a tense, uneasy reconciliation.

Present Bombay
9

Present - Party, arrest, and Nair's betrayal

At a party attended by Kareem's gang and city police, Kareem is arrested after Nair betrays him. Devan then uses footage of the officers with Kareem's gang to blackmail the arresting officers, securing Kareem's release.

Present Bombay
10

Present - Holi massacre

During Holi celebrations, Majeed Khan and Nair kill Sainaba and Kareem's son, along with Kunjali, devastating Devan and Kareem. The tragedy pushes Kareem to reevaluate his criminal life and seek redemption.

Present Bombay
11

Present - Kareem renounces crime

The brutal losses push Kareem to abandon his gangster life and seek a more religious, redemptive path away from his underworld alliances.

Present Bombay
12

Present - Devan eliminates the survivors; prison

Devan tracks down Majeed Khan and Nair and kills them, exacting vengeance for the earlier losses. His actions lead to a five-year prison sentence.

Present Bombay
13

Past - Return to Kerala and parental rejection

After his release, Devan and Nirmala move to Kerala. When he returns, his father remains angry, and his mother tells him to leave the family home.

Past (post-prison) Kerala
14

Kerala - Forgiveness and planning

With Nirmala and the ally Sakhavu Karunan, Devan gathers Arumukhan, Govindan Nair, Inspector Chandrappan, Adv Radhakrishnan, and a corrupt temple priest to clear his name. He forgives the men who framed him for the sake of Ashwathy's reputation and introduces Ashwathy and Nirmala to each other.

Present Kerala
15

Final - Mansion, hostage, and the ending

Devan envisions a new life in a mansion with Nirmala, but Majeed Khan and Nair reappear to abduct her. He pays the ransom, is shot, and in the ensuing fight suffocates Nair and shoots Khan, killing them both. Nirmala dies in the process, and the film closes with an enraged Devan screaming at a judge for his fabricated imprisonment.

Present Kerala (mansion)

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:25

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