Gumnaam

Gumnaam

Year: 1965

Runtime: 151 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Raja Nawathe

MysteryThrillerHorror

After their plane crashes, eight strangers find themselves stranded on a remote island. Seeking shelter, they stumble upon an imposing mansion where a poised butler greets them, seemingly expecting their arrival. As night falls, the guests are picked off one by one, turning the eerie refuge into a deadly game of survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Gumnaam (1965)

Trace every key event in Gumnaam (1965) 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

Seth Sohanlal's death and Khanna's murder setup

On a dark night, Seth Sohanlal is run down by a speeding car and dies instantly. Khanna, watching from a room overlooking the hotel, makes a chain of calls to a doctor, a mysterious young girl, and a lawyer to arrange a medical certificate and a will. Soon after, an unseen intruder in a long coat shoots Khanna in his room, ending his schemes and heightening the danger.

night hotel
2

Lucky draw winners announced

At a nightclub, seven winners are named for a free fortnight abroad: Barrister Rakesh, Dharamdas, Kishan, Kitty Kelly, Dr. Acharya, Madhusudan Sharma, and Asha. The winners are connected to Seth Sohanlal’s murder and the will, though most don’t yet see how closely their fates are tied. The air crackles with a mix of excitement and foreboding as the true stakes emerge.

a few days later nightclub
3

Emergency landing and island abandonment

The seven winners board a chartered plane bound for abroad, but the pilot announces an emergency landing on a remote island. After the group disembarks, the pilot dumps their baggage and flies away, leaving them stranded with no rescue in sight. A mysterious unseen singer begins an eerie song, guiding them toward a vast mansion on the island.

in flight / immediate aftermath remote island
4

Arrival at the mansion and incriminating diary

The group follows the singing to a large mansion kept by a comical butler who claims to be expecting them. The butler possesses a diary that logs daily expenses and contains a message accusing the guests of conspiring to kill Seth Sohanlal. A letter addressed to the entire group warns of dire consequences, and the butler seems to know each guest by name.

that night mansion
5

Kishan's murder and the driver revelation

Kishan is found stabbed to death, a half-smoked cigar resting beside his body, and a letter identifies him as the driver of the car that struck Seth. The group suspects Dharamdas but he pleads innocence, and soon he himself is found strangled, further intensifying the blood-soaked mystery.

that night island mansion
6

Dharamdas's death and rising paranoia

Dharamdas is discovered murdered by strangulation, escalating paranoia among the remaining survivors. Anand and Asha try to piece together how Seth Sohanlal’s murder connects to the current island killings, while the letters hint at deeper betrayals within the group.

the following day island mansion
7

Sharma's murder and the co-conspirator claim

Dr. Acharya and Madhusudan Sharma are found with Sharma murdered by an axe. A letter beside Sharma claims he was Khanna's co-conspirator, fueling theories of internal betrayal and double-crosses among the castaways. The tension deepens as the group debates who might be orchestrating the killings.

the following day island mansion
8

Kitty's walk ends in murder and a cursed hat

Kitty goes for a walk and is strangled to death by a rope, with Anand's hat left near the body, implying a sinister hand at work. Rakesh tries to pursue the perpetrator but loses the trail in the chaos. Fear grips the remaining castaways as the net tightens around them.

the following day island mansion
9

Rakesh's assault and his fatal end

In a night of escalating dread, Rakesh attacks Asha in a fit of rage, attempting to rape her, and collapses dead with two daggers in his back. The lights go out, suggesting the killer is among them, and Asha hides as danger closes in. The mansion trembles with fear as the next move could be deadly.

that night island mansion
10

Sharma's survival and confession of the plan

In a shocking twist, Sharma reveals that he is alive and has been orchestrating the murders as Madanlal, using the butler to carry out his scheme. He admits killing Kishan and Dharamdas, fooling Dr. Acharya into declaring him dead, and eliminating Kitty and Rakesh as part of a long-plotted revenge. The confession explains the tangled web of deceit that brought the group to the island.

final confrontation island mansion
11

Anand's reveal and the pursuit of the killer

Anand reveals he is actually an undercover police inspector tasked with capturing Sharma, the escaped convict known as Madanlal. He and Asha confront Sharma while the butler secretly aids by freeing them, triggering a tense struggle as Sharma tries to flee toward the shore. A contingent of police finally closes in, turning the tide against the killer.

final confrontation island mansion
12

The ghost singer exposed and the island's escape

The shifting mystery resolves when the singing ghost is revealed to be the butler's mentally ill sister, Naina. A police airplane lands on the island and Madanlal is arrested, while Anand, Asha, the butler, and his sister prepare to leave. The survivors depart the ill-fated island on the plane, bringing the nightmare to a close.

end of story island / airfield

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:22

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