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.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Madhumati (1958)

Trace every key event in Madhumati (1958) 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

Stormy night leads to shelter in the mansion

On a storm-lashed hill road, Devendra and a friend rush to fetch his wife and child from the railway station. A sudden landslide blocks their path, forcing them to seek shelter inside an old mansion. As the rain lashes the windows, Devendra senses the house is eerily familiar and prepares to tell his tale.

Night Hill road; old mansion
2

Devendra discovers a familiar portrait

In the large front room, Devendra spots an old portrait he recognizes from another life. The storm outside seems to echo his creeping sense of déjà vu. He sits down to recount his story while the thunder rumbles around them.

Night Large front room, old mansion
3

Anand becomes estate manager and falls for Madhumati

Anand arrives as the new manager of Shyamnagar Timber Estate and carries a quiet artistic sensibility. He falls for Madhumati, a Kumaoni woman whose songs haunt him from afar, drawing him into a romance under the ruthlessness of Raja Ugra Narain. Their relationship sharpens Ugra Narain's wrath and tests Anand's resolve.

During his tenure Shyamnagar Timber Estate, hills
4

Madhumati's disappearance and the assault on Anand

After being sent away on an errand, Anand returns to find Madhumati missing. He confronts Ugra Narain, but his men beat him unconscious and carry him away. Madhumati's father fights to stop her death, but dies on the road; Charandas hides and ferries Anand's body to a hospital.

After returning from errand Ugra Narain's palace, the road, hospital
5

Anand's mind wanders; Madhavi appears

Anand's mind wanders as memories blur and a woman who looks exactly like Madhumati appears, introducing herself as Madhavi. He cannot accept the claim and resists the deception, and is beaten by her companions for doubting her. The encounter deepens his sense of living between two lives.

Later Estate vicinity
6

Madhavi discovers Madhumati's story and agrees to a ruse

Madhavi finds a sketch of Madhumati that confirms Anand's tale, and she resolves to learn his history and pose as Madhumati to expose Ugra Narain's crimes. The plan becomes a dangerous gambit to unravel the tyrant's control. The deception is born from desperation and love.

Before confrontation Unknown location
7

The masquerade begins: Madhavi as Madhumati confronts Ugra Narain

At Ugra Narain's palace, Madhavi appears dressed as Madhumati and confronts the tyrant in a tense scene. The act is timed at eight o'clock, with police waiting outside to arrest Ugra Narain. Anand watches the ruse unfold with a mix of anticipation and fear as the truth edges closer.

Next evening, at eight Ugra Narain's palace
8

The real Madhumati's ghost arrives; the truth blurs

The plan seems to work until the real Madhumati arrives—dressed as herself but late because her car broke down. Anand realizes he may have seen Madhumati's ghost rather than Madhavi, and the line between truth and apparition blurs. The room fills with ghostly ambiguity as past and present press against each other.

That night Palace interior
9

Anand is led to the terrace and dies

Madhumati's ghost beckons Anand to the terrace; he follows, drawn by the weight of remembered love and a quest for truth. He reaches the edge and falls to his death as the haunting revelation sinks in. The tragedy seals the lovers' fate within the cycle of reincarnation.

Night Palace terrace
10

Present-day twist: Radha's safety and reincarnation revealed

Back in the present, Devendra learns that the train carrying his wife Radha has met with an accident, prompting a tense wait. When Radha emerges unharmed from the train, Devendra declares that she is the reincarnation of Madhumati. He adds that they have shared many lives across different existences.

Present night Railway station
11

Reincarnation confirmed and future promised

Radha accepts the revelation, recognizing the deep thread of past lives that binds them to Madhumati and Anand. Their bond is framed as a continuation across births, resolving the stormy memories with a quiet, hopeful acknowledgement. The film closes on their intertwined fates beyond the mortal world.

End Present

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:33

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Madhumati

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