Gol Maal

Gol Maal

Year: 1979

Runtime: 144 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee

ComedyCrude humor and satireLaugh-out-loud relationship entanglementsAmusing jokes and witty satireGags jokes and slapstick humor

A man’s simple lie to secure his job escalates into more complex lies when his orthodox boss becomes suspicious.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Gol Maal (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Gol Maal (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Set in a contemporary urban milieu where traditional values clash with modern ambitions. The plot moves through offices, homes, social functions, and public gatherings, highlighting a tension between appearance and truth.

Location

The film unfolds across urban India, centering on a family business, a home, and social scenes. Key locations include Bhavani Shankar's office, Sharma's house, Urmila's circle, a hockey match venue, and party venues. The setting shifts between work, music lessons, and public events, showing how appearances influence relationships.

🗺️ Urban India 🏙️ City life 🏛️ Domestic spaces

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:03

Main Characters – Gol Maal (1979)

Meet the key characters of Gol Maal (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ramprasad Dashrathprasad Sharma / Lakshmanprasad 'Lucky' Sharma (Amol Palekar)

A chartered accountant and aspiring singer who leads a double life to earn Shankar's favor. He uses a fake twin to juggle responsibilities and social expectations, showing wit but courting risk as his lies accumulate. His flexibility and charm drive the comedy, even as his deception threatens the very relationships he values.

🎭 Deception 🧩 Dual identity 🎶 Music

Bhavani Shankar

A man of rigid traditional values who hates modern attire and even moustaches in men. He values propriety and order, pushing for a stable match for Urmila. His stern demeanor and stubborn adherence to norms create the pressure cooker for the plot’s misunderstandings.

🎭 Tradition 🧭 Authority 💼 Boss

Urmila

Daughter of Bhavani Shankar who is drawn to Lucky's modern, carefree persona. She sees him as a path to romance and possibility, testing her own loyalties and expectations about marriage. Her attraction to the alter ego complicates family plans.

💘 Romance 🎭 Identity 🧭 Modernity

Kamala Srivastava

A socialite who pretends to be Ramprasad's mother to satisfy Shankar's demand to meet his parent. She becomes part of the deception, then also faces the risk of exposure. Her involvement reveals how appearances shape social interactions.

🎭 Imagination 🕵️ Deception 💃 Socialite

Ratna Sharma

Ramprasad's sister, loyal and supportive as family ties are tested by the double life. She navigates the quirks of the family dynamic and offers a grounding presence amid the chaos. Her role helps anchor the domestic sphere in the comedy.

👪 Family 🕊️ Loyalty 🧭 Support

Deven Verma

Sharma's friend who assists in maintaining the Lucky illusion, providing practical help and comic support. His involvement highlights a loyal, if imperfect, friendship that sustains the ruse. He participates in the schemes with an easygoing, collaborative vibe.

🤝 Friendship 🧰 Helper 😂 Comedy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:03

Major Themes – Gol Maal (1979)

Explore the central themes of Gol Maal (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Deception

A core thread follows Ramprasad's double life as Lucky, a lie built on a fabricated twin. The plot hinges on disguises, misidentifications, and clever cover stories. The deception leads to comic complications, closer scrutiny, and eventual consequences when truth surfaces.

💞 Romance & Identity

Urmila is drawn to Lucky's modern, carefree persona, creating tension with Ramprasad's real self. The fake mother and staged family dynamics test romantic trust and loyalty. The story uses romance to explore how identity changes can threaten genuine connection.

🏛️ Tradition vs Modernity

Bhavani Shankar embodies traditional values, despising modern attire and even moustaches in men. The clash drives much of the comedy and informs relationships, especially in marriage prospects. The film juxtaposes old-world norms with new (albeit comedic) aspirations.

🗝️ Truth & Resolution

As Sharma's web of lies begins to unravel, he must reveal the truth to Urmila and Shankar. The resolution hinges on trust, the restoration of family honor, and a final gesture of acceptance when Shankar shaves his own moustache. The ending blends forgiveness with a humorous, humane verdict.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:03

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Gol Maal Summary

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Gol Maal Summary

Gol Maal Timeline

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Gol Maal Timeline

More About Gol Maal

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