Madhumati

Madhumati

Year: 1958

Runtime: 171 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Bimal Roy

MysteryRomanceMusic

During a fierce storm two travelers seek refuge in a crumbling countryside mansion. As the wind howls, one of them is struck by a vivid memory that he once lived there in a former incarnation. He tells the tale of Anand, a painter who fell deeply in love with a tribal girl, Madhumati, and the longing that binds their souls across lifetimes.

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Timeline & Setting – Madhumati (1958)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Madhumati (1958). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Old Mansion, Shyamnagar Timber Estate, Kumaon Hills

Set on storm-lashed hills, the action centers around an eerie old mansion and the Shyamnagar Timber Estate. The mansion's front room with a portrait becomes the frame for Devendra's recollected tale, blurring past and present. The estate's corridors and the surrounding Kumaon hills supply the atmosphere of memory, tragedy, and the quest for truth.

🏔️ Kumaon Hills 🏰 Old Mansion 🌲 Timber Estate

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:17

Main Characters – Madhumati (1958)

Meet the key characters of Madhumati (1958), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Anand / Deven (Dilip Kumar)

Anand is the new manager of Shyamnagar Timber Estate and an aspiring artist who resists Raja Ugra Narayan's demands. He falls in love with Madhumati, a Kumaoni woman whose songs haunt him from afar, and becomes entangled in a dangerous power struggle. After Madhumati disappears and is eventually killed, Anand becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, even as his own mind begins to unravel.

🎨 Artist 💪 Defiant 🧠 Insightful

Madhumati / Madhavi / Radha (Vyjayanthimala)

Madhumati is a Kumaoni tribal woman whose haunting songs connect her across lifetimes. She is taken by Ugra Narayan and killed, though her spirit continues to influence events through reincarnation. Across the story, she reappears as Madhavi and later as Radha, guiding Anand toward the truth and his own fate.

🎶 Enchanting singer 🌟 Ethereal 🔗 Reincarnated

Raja Ugra Narayan (Pran Sikand)

Raja Ugra Narayan is the ruthless, arrogant owner who rules the estate with fear and brutality. He fights to suppress his enemies and sees Madhumati as a threat; his crimes are exposed as Madhavi probes him, leading to his arrest after the truth is revealed.

👑 Tyrant ⚔️ Ruthless

Pawan Raja (Madhumati's Father)

Pawan Raja is Madhumati's father who fights to save his daughter when she is threatened by Ugra Narayan. He dies on the road after a struggle during the palace confrontation, leaving his family to grieve the loss.

👨 Protector 💔 Tragic

Bir Singh (Ramayan Tiwari)

Bir Singh is part of the estate's staff who observes the escalating conflict and bears witness to the crime and its aftermath. His presence helps connect the estate's inner politics to the larger mystery, providing context for Anand's investigations.

🧑‍💼 Staff 🔎 Witness

Doctor (Tarun Bose)

Tarun Bose's Doctor treats the injured and contributes to the story's unfolding of events. The medical perspective provides grounding as the investigation and haunting advance.

🏥 Medical 👨‍⚕️ Healer

Police Captain (Jagdish Raj)

The Police Captain represents the law at the climax, waiting outside as Ugra Narayan is confronted with the truth and arrested. His presence embodies the return of order after the estate's turmoil.

👮 Police

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:17

Major Themes – Madhumati (1958)

Explore the central themes of Madhumati (1958), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔮 Reincarnation

The narrative centers on reincarnation, linking past and present through Madhumati's spirit and Anand's memories. As the storm rages, memories of Madhumati's life surface, guiding the lovers across lifetimes. The film uses this cycle to explore love that transcends death, and the idea that souls are bound to repeat their fates until truths are revealed.

👻 Haunting

Madhumati's ghostly presence haunts Anand, guiding him toward the truth and the confrontation with the killer. The mansion and the palace become stages where the dead return as memory and moral reckoning. The haunting drives the plot, forcing characters to confront guilt, desire, and the consequences of their actions.

👑 Oppression

Power dynamics within Shyamnagar Timber Estate reveal how wealth and authority can corrupt and brutalize. Ugra Narayan's ruthlessness drives the tragedy, while those around him must decide whether to resist or comply. The film critiques aristocratic control and the suffering it causes among workers, families, and lovers.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:17

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Madhumati Summary

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Madhumati Summary

Madhumati Timeline

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Madhumati Timeline

More About Madhumati

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