Mashaal

Vinod Kumar, an upright journalist, runs the newspaper Mashaal and uses it as a platform to expose the ills plaguing society. His fearless reporting earns him both respect and formidable enemies. He becomes a beacon for reform, setting the stage for the personal trials to come.

Sudha notices the vagabond Raja and attempts to instill some values and culture in him. Vinod is skeptical at first but is moved when Raja recounts a tragic childhood. The couple gradually treats Raja as part of their family, with Sudha acting as a maternal figure.

To give Raja a better path, Vinod decides to send him to Bangalore to complete his education and learn to become a journalist. This separation marks a turning point as Raja begins a new chapter away from Mashaal. The mentor-mentee relationship tightens despite physical distance.

During his time away, Raja befriends Geeta, an aspiring journalist who works as an assistant at Vinod's paper. Their bond grows deeper as they share professional dreams and personal feelings. The budding romance adds a human dimension to the newsroom drama.

Vinod delves into the illicit activities of S.K. Vardhan, exposing drug trafficking and the sale of hooch. S.K. attempts to buy Vinod's silence with a bribe, but Vinod remains steadfast in his pursuit of truth. The stakes rise as Vardhan's power begins to challenge Vinod personally.

When Vinod refuses the bribe, S.K. exerts pressure by having his landlord force Vinod out of his rented house. That very night, S.K.'s men burn Mashaal's office, crippling Vinod's ability to publish his exposés. The blow is not just professional but deeply personal.

Amid the turmoil, Sudha, already ailing, collapses and dies on a city street. Her death leaves Vinod heartbroken and drives him toward a darker path he never anticipated. The family is torn apart as their moral compass is compromised.

Disillusioned by repeated defeats, Vinod partners with Kishorilal to enter illegal hooch production and other illicit ventures. He pursues power and money, believing wealth could have prevented the tragedies that struck his family. The transformation marks a grim turn in his values.

Vinod's illicit ventures flourish and he becomes rich, though at the cost of his former ideals. The new wealth creates a dangerous rift with those who once believed in him, including Raja, who remains unaware of his mentor's double life. The stage is set for a collision between old loyalties and new power.

Raja comes back after completing his education and is shocked to find Vinod living a prosperous but morally compromised life. He is unaware of the underlying crimes and remains loyal, at least outwardly, but begins to suspect something is amiss. The reunion carries the weight of looming revelations.

Raja learns from his old friend Munna that a new crime lord has entered the scene and has a foothold in the hooch and drugs underworld. He decides to expose this criminal, starting to work for Dinesh, a rival journalist who also employs Geeta. The pursuit pits Raja against his former mentor.

A chance discussion among Raja, Dinesh, and Geeta leads to the shocking revelation that Vinod himself is the drug lord they are hunting. Raja is stunned by the truth and must decide how to handle this knowledge without betraying his mentor's memory. He resolves to continue his righteous path despite the hurt.

After an emotional confrontation, Vinod admits the truth and explains the circumstances that led to his double life. Raja chooses to stay on the righteous path he was taught, and Vinod blesses his decision, recognizing the strength of his pupil's integrity. The mentor-student bond survives the revelation in a surprising moment of grace.

Raja begins writing about both Vinod and S.K., escalating their feud. S.K. kidnaps Raja to silence him, but Vinod intervenes, saving his protégé and squarely confronting the criminal. The confrontation ends with Vinod throwing S.K. into the printing press wheels, killing him.

Keshav, a henchman of S.K., shoots at Raja but Vinod jumps in front to protect him. Vinod is fatally shot and dies in Raja's arms, having achieved a quiet contentment in his final moments. Keshav is arrested as the empire collapses around them.