Maachis

Maachis

Year: 1996

Runtime: 160 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Gulzar

CrimeThrillerAction

A realistic, hard-hitting portrayal of terrorism and youth in the Punjab after the 1984 riots.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Maachis (1996)

Trace every key event in Maachis (1996) 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

Peaceful life disrupted by police search

In a rural Punjab village, Jaswant, Veeran, and their elderly mother Biji live a quiet, peaceful life. Assistant Commissioner Khurana and Inspector Vohra arrive to arrest Jimmy, accused of an attempted murder on a Member of Parliament. Jaswant's prank with a puppy leads to his capture, and he is brutally tortured for fifteen days before returning home scarred. The family hopes for normalcy, unaware of the violence soon to engulf them.

Mid-1980s Rural Punjab village
2

Justice denied; Kripal vows to fight back

Kripal seeks legal help after Jaswant's brutal beating, but justice eludes him. Frustrated, he visits friends and hints at militant connections. The system's corruption becomes the impetus for joining the militants.

Immediately after Jaswant's torture Various police stations in Punjab
3

Kripal joins the militant network

Kripal's encounter at a highway dhaba with Sanatan paves the way into the militant network. He is introduced to a Commander and other militants who agree to help him in his pursuit of justice. Sanatan explains his philosophy: the fight is about civil rights, not nationalism or religion.

Shortly after joining Dhabha and militant hideout
4

Jeetay's fate revealed; self-styled justice demanded

The Commander reveals he killed Jeetay for being a police informant. Kripal pleads for justice, but is told that they are not professional killers and that if he wants justice, he must take Khurana's life himself.

Early in training Militant hideout
5

Kripal trains and plans Khurana's murder

Kripal earns trust and undergoes rigorous training with the group. Sanatan explains their broader cause: defending civil rights against a corrupt system. He plans the assassination of Khurana, a symbol of police brutality, as a test of his resolve.

Over a year of preparation Militant camp
6

Khurana is killed in a crowded marketplace

After a year of training and planning, Kripal executes the attack, killing Khurana in a crowded marketplace. The act shocks his friends and family, who are appalled by the violence and Kripal's drastic path. Kripal goes into hiding as the police search for him.

Year after training Crowded marketplace
7

Police close in; the group hides in Himachal

News of Khurana's assassination leads authorities to Kripal's involvement. The group moves to a new hiding place in Himachal Pradesh as they evade arrest and doubt the possibility of returning to normal life.

Shortly after the murder Himachal Pradesh, India
8

Veeran returns as missile specialist

A new mission looms, and the group is surprised when the missile specialist arrives—it's Veeran, Kripal's fiancée. Kripal learns of Jaswant's fate (beaten and dead) and that his mother has also passed away, deepening the tragedy.

During the run Militant hideout
9

Secret marriage and cyanide precaution

Kripal and Veeran decide to marry in secret, cementing their commitment. Veeran secretly takes a cyanide pill, a protective measure carried by each member if captured.

Soon after Veeran arrives Militant base
10

The Kedar Nath mission begins; Vohra watches

The militants prepare to assassinate MP Kedar Nath at a Sikh shrine. Kripal spots Inspector Vohra guarding Kedar Nath's visit, and he makes a failed attempt to kill him, leading to his arrest. Sanatan accuses Veeran of betrayal and places her under house arrest.

On the day of the mission Sikh shrine; Vohra's residence
11

Jaimal's death and the assassination of Kedar Nath

Jaimal stops Kedar Nath's motorcade on a bridge and is killed. Sanatan fires the missile, blowing up Kedar Nath's car, achieving the mission's objective but setting off a deadly cycle within the group.

During the mission Bridge; road near shrine
12

Veeran fights back; Wazir is slain

Veeran escapes house arrest and turns against the others. She kills Wazir when ordered by Sanatan, who then becomes the target of Veeran's pursuit as the group fractures under pressure.

After the mission Militant hideout and woods
13

Final confrontation with Sanatan

In a climactic confrontation deep in the woods, Veeran kills Sanatan, ending his leadership in the group. Kripal remains on the run and Veeran's path diverges from his as the police close in.

Shortly after the Kedar Nath mission Deep woods
14

Cyanide tragedy: Kripal dies in prison

Veeran visits Kripal in prison and passes him a cyanide pill, signaling his impending death. Kripal takes the pill and dies in his cell, while Veeran is shown later, blood streaming from her nose as she sits in a moving pickup, also having taken cyanide.

Final scene Prison; moving pickup
15

Aftermath of a cycle of violence

The ending underscores the cycle of violence and unyielding vengeance in Punjab's turbulent era. The two lovers, Kripal and Veeran, meet their fates through cyanide, underscoring the cost of fighting a corrupted system.

Late 1980s Punjab, India

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:28

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