Mashaal

Mashaal

Year: 1984

Runtime: 162 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Yash Chopra

Action

Vinod Kumar, an upright journalist, uses his newspaper Mashaal to expose the corruption and crime of powerful politician‑gangster SK Vardhan. As his investigation intensifies, threats mount and he is drawn into violent confrontations, gradually abandoning his principles and becoming the very gangster he set out to reveal.

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Timeline & Setting – Mashaal (1984)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Mashaal (1984). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Bangalore, India

Set against a bustling Indian city, the story centers on Bangalore as Raja pursues education and a future in journalism. The urban landscape becomes a stage for both idealistic pursuits and the underworld of hooch and drugs. It contrasts public virtue with private vice, underscoring the film's moral tensions.

🏙️ Urban backdrop 📰 Journalism hub 🎓 Education center

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:16

Main Characters – Mashaal (1984)

Meet the key characters of Mashaal (1984), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Raja - Anil Kapoor

A vagabond turned hopeful student taken in by Vinod and Sudha. He travels to Bangalore for education, forming a bond with Geeta and nurturing ambitions of becoming a journalist who uncovers truth. When the thread of ethics is tested, he chooses to stay on the righteous path despite discovering Vinod's crime.

🎓 Student 🕵️‍♂️ Investigator 💘 Lover 🎯 Idealist

Sudha Kumar - Waheeda Rehman

Vinod's wife who tries to instill values and culture in Raja, acting as a maternal figure. Her warmth anchors the family as they face hardship and betrayal. Her death on the road becomes a pivotal tragedy that drives the film's moral tension.

❤️ Wife 🧭 Moral compass 👩‍👧 Maternal figure

Vinod Kumar - Dilip Kumar

An upright journalist who runs the Mashaal newspaper, exposing social ills. After facing brutal retaliation, he grows disillusioned and adopts illicit methods to accumulate wealth, seeking to topple the corrupt system from within. His arc ends in a fatal confrontation that reshapes the lives around him.

🗞️ Journalist 💔 Tragic Hero ⚖️ Morally Conflicted

S.K. Vardhan - Amrish Puri

A wealthy, respected magnate who manipulates public perception and coerces Vinod into illegal enterprises. He uses bribery and force to crush those who threaten his empire, embodying power without conscience. His clash with Vinod escalates to violence.

🏛️ Powerful 💵 Ruthless ⚖️ Opponent

Geeta - Rati Agnihotri

An aspiring journalist and Raja's love interest who works in Vinod's paper. She grows resentful of Vinod after discovering his double life and shifts to another newspaper, becoming a witness to the moral conflict surrounding the protagonists. Her evolving stance adds tension to the central relationships.

🗞️ Journalist 💔 Love interest 🧭 Independent

Kishorilal - Saeed Jaffrey

A shrewd ally who partners with Vinod in illicit ventures to fund his empire. He helps maintain the criminal operation and contributes to the moral decay at the film's center. His presence sharpens the conflict between legality and survival.

🤝 Ally 💵 Money 🕳️ Criminal

Munna - Gulshan Grover

An old friend from Raja's past who signals the arrival of a new crime lord and provides insight into the evolving underworld. He helps Raja understand the scale of criminal influence and the threats facing the protagonists. His role underscores how crime intertwines with urban life.

🕳️ Villain 🗡️ Underworld 🔎 Informant

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:16

Major Themes – Mashaal (1984)

Explore the central themes of Mashaal (1984), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Corruption

Vinod's disillusionment with crime leads him to adopt a criminal enterprise, showing how power can corrupt even well-intentioned people. The pursuit of money reshapes ethics and triggers personal tragedy. The theme explores the blurring line between public service and private crime.

🧭 Mentorship

Vinod acts as a mentor to Raja, guiding him toward truthful journalism. When Raja confronts Vinod's secret life, their bond is tested, yet Vinod offers blessings for Raja's continued pursuit of truth. The theme highlights how values can be passed down across generations, even amid betrayal.

📰 Journalism

Mashaal embodies the power of the press to expose social ills despite opposition from the powerful. Investigative work drives conflict, violence, and tragedy, revealing the cost of truth in a corrupt system. The theme probes whether accountability is possible when institutions fail.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:16

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Mashaal Summary

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Mashaal Summary

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Mashaal Timeline

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