Mahatma (2009) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Devan supports Hari's protest because Hari is his childhood friend from a Namboothiri Brahmin family that has fallen on hard financial times. When Devan visits Kerala and sees Hari staging a fast against temple priest appointments for Scheduled Castes, he pledges his support and brings Hari into his organization as his right-hand man. Devan also urges Hari to renounce his Yajnopaveetham (sacred thread), symbolizing Hari's break from his feudal Brahmin roots and his acceptance into Devan's criminal world.

Foreshadowing: This alliance between a powerful underworld don and an activist from a once-feudal background plant seeds for future betrayal when Hari's political ambitions clash with Devan's methods.

• Devan
• Hari
• Kerala
• protest
• underworld
• alliance

Hari's betrayal stems from multiple factors. First, he discovers that Devan has been secretly supporting Mustafa's romance with Saraswati, Hari's younger sister, despite Hari's opposition to his Muslim background. Second, Hari's political ambitions grow as he becomes more entangled in James Kutty's schemes. When James and Reddiar plot to destroy Devan's empire, Hari sees an opportunity to rise to power himself. He helps transport explosives for the serial blasts, believing this will eliminate Devan and position him as a major player.

Foreshadowing: Hari's willingness to abandon his Yajnopaveetham earlier signaled his capacity to abandon principles for power, foreshadowing his ultimate betrayal.

• Hari
• betrayal
• James Kutty
• explosives
• power

The serial blasts were orchestrated by David Abraham in collaboration with James Kutty and Reddiar. David Abraham, the Dubai-based crime boss who had previously elevated Devan to power, was losing his turf to Devan's growing empire. To divert attention from corruption allegations against his men, including Baba Rahim, David Abraham supplied explosives and manpower for the coordinated blasts, which were accompanied by a planned communal riot. Hari became the mule who transported the explosives into the city.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tension between David Abraham and Devan over territorial control established the motive for this devastating attack.

• serial blasts
• David Abraham
• James Kutty
• explosives
• communal riot

Justice Varma operates with duplicity throughout the present-day storyline. While publicly conducting the Justice Varma Commission probe into the serial blasts and corruption, Varma secretly assists in extracting bullets from Devan's pistol, making it appear as though he is helping Devan. However, after being exposed for his manipulative approach, Varma's true allegiance remains ambiguous, his actions suggest he may be working with or against Devan depending on what serves his own interests. His removal of bullets from Devan's pistol while simultaneously orchestrating events creates suspicion about his ultimate motives.

Foreshadowing: The Commission's setup as a platform for truth-seeking is undermined by Varma's dual role, hinting at deeper political conspiracies.

• Justice Varma
• Commission
• manipulation
• duplicity

Koshy, who is introduced as Devan's attorney and a cabbie, turns out to be a traitor working against Devan. During the chase after Hari's second assassination attempt, Koshy locks Devan and Hari inside the car from outside, trapping them. He then detonates a remote-controlled bomb, seemingly attempting to kill Devan. However, Devan gets hold of the remote and detonates the bomb himself, killing Hari instead. Koshy's betrayal represents another instance of Devan being betrayed by someone close to him, adding to the film's theme of pervasive treachery.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes a pattern of betrayal, Khan, David Abraham, Hari, making Koshy's treachery consistent with the narrative's betrayal motif.

• Koshy
• bomb
• lawyer
• betrayal
• car explosion

Mustafa falls in love with Saraswati, Hari's younger sister. However, Saraswati and Hari strongly object to the relationship because Mustafa is Muslim while they are from a traditional Hindu Brahmin family. When Hari discovers that Devan has been secretly supporting Mustafa's pursuit of his sister, feeling betrayed by Devan's interference in what he considers a family matter, Hari parts ways with Devan. This personal rift weakens Devan's inner circle at a critical moment when external threats from James Kutty and Reddiar are escalating.

Foreshadowing: This religious tension foreshadows the broader communal conflicts that will erupt during the serial blasts.

• Mustafa
• Saraswati
• Hari
• romance
• religious divide

David Abraham originally appointed Devan as his representative in India after eliminating Khan Sahib. However, Devan's power grows too quickly and he begins threatening David Abraham's own turf and influence. When James Kutty and Reddiar plot against Devan, David Abraham aligns with them, providing explosives for the serial blasts designed to destroy Devan's empire. The blasts serve David's dual purpose: eliminating his rival Devan while diverting attention from corruption allegations against his own men.

Foreshadowing: David Abraham's pattern of eliminating intermediaries, first Khan, then Devan, demonstrates his ruthless approach to maintaining control.

• David Abraham
• Devan
• turf war
• explosives
• betrayal

Devan survives through a combination of quick reflexes and sheer luck. When Hari first shoots him at the courthouse, Devan is critically wounded but survives. In the hospital ward, after Justice Varma's suspicious visit where bullets are removed from Devan's pistol, Hari returns to finish the job. Devan narrowly evades the second shot, leading to a chase. During the car escape, Koshy locks them in and plants a bomb, but Devan manages to grab the remote from Koshy and detonates the bomb himself, killing Hari while narrowly escaping death himself.

Foreshadowing: Devan's survival mirrors his earlier rise from multiple violent confrontations, reinforcing his status as a calculating survivor.

• Devan
• Hari
• hospital
• assassination
• survival

Hari shoots Devan at the Commission because by this point, their relationship has completely fractured. Hari has aligned with James Kutty and David Abraham to destroy Devan's empire and replace him. The serial blasts were part of this plan to eliminate Devan. When Devan appears before the Commission to testify, Hari sees an opportunity to silence him permanently and take full control. The shooting represents the culmination of Hari's transformation from Devan's loyal ally to his bitter enemy, driven by ambition and revenge.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes showing Hari's growing ambition and his willingness to abandon his principles foreshadow this violent betrayal.

• Hari
• Devan
• Commission
• shooting
• betrayal

Nancy is the daughter of Khan Sahib's second wife from her first marriage, making her Devan's stepdaughter in a sense. An aspiring film actress, Nancy meets Devan when he takes shelter at Khan's house after being bailed out. She is immediately drawn to Devan's dangerous charisma and magnetic personality, falling for him quickly. Their relationship represents one of the few personal connections Devan maintains as he rises through the underworld, though it remains largely in the background compared to the film's major political and criminal plotlines.

Foreshadowing: Nancy's attraction to danger foreshadows the destructive path Devan's criminal career will take.

• Devan
• Nancy
• Khan
• romance
• aspiring actress