Masterpiece (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Vedhika was killed because she planned to expose a web of secrets involving political corruption, an affair between a minister and Ramlath, and the murder of Krishnadas. ACP John Thekkan orchestrated her death to silence her before she could reveal these truths that connected to his own dark past.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Vedhika's reputation and connections are constantly discussed, hinting at her importance to multiple parties.

• vedhika murder
• thekkan
• conspiracy
• political secrets
• ramlath

Unnikrishnan was not killed by police torture but was actually murdered on ACP Thekkan's orders. Thekkan had Ramachandran kill Unnikrishnan to silence him, as he was the last person Vedhika called and knew too much about her plans.

Foreshadowing: Thekkan's investigation is shown to be aggressive and biased from the start, raising questions about his true intentions.

• unnikrishnan death
• police custody
• ramachandran
• thekkan orders

ACP John Thekkan is revealed to be the mastermind behind Vedhika's murder. He orchestrated her kidnapping and killing because she was about to expose secrets involving his past and political connections.

Foreshadowing: Thekkan's intense focus on the case and his quick fixation on Unnikrishnan as a suspect hints at his personal stake in the investigation.

• vedhika killer
• thekkan
• mastermind
• murder conspiracy

Unnikrishnan was arrested because he was the last person Vedhika spoke to, having received her call to meet at the railway station. Thekkan used this connection to frame him, knowing Unnikrishnan would be a convenient suspect who could be silenced before revealing what Vedhika might have told him.

Foreshadowing: The phone call between Vedhika and Unnikrishnan is established early as the reason he becomes the prime suspect.

• unnikrishnan arrest
• framed
• last phone call
• thekkan conspiracy

Thekkan's motive stemmed from Vedhika's plan to expose a complicated history involving a minister's affair with Ramlath, the murder of Krishnadas, and Thekkan's own criminal involvement. By killing Vedhika, he prevented her revelation, and by killing Unnikrishnan, he eliminated someone who might have known about Vedhika's plans.

Foreshadowing: Edward Livingston repeatedly questions why the police are so quick to blame students rather than investigate their own ranks.

• thekkan motive
• political corruption
• cover up
• krishnadas murder

Edward Livingston is revealed to be Anto Antony, an IPS officer from the Central Home Department. He went undercover at the college as part of a hidden police operation, with the so-called campus workers actually being undercover officers on his team.

Foreshadowing: Edward's unusual knowledge of police procedures and his ability to unite students and fight off goons hint at his true background.

• edward livingston
• anto antony
• ips officer
• undercover
• real identity

The police officers were undercover as campus workers as part of Anto Antony's (Edward's) secret IPS operation. This was a larger investigation beyond the campus murder case, involving coordination with the Central Home Department to uncover corruption and bring the real culprits to justice.

Foreshadowing: Edward warns students not to leave campus and later reveals he knows about officers hiding among the workers.

• undercover police
• campus infiltration
• ips operation
• hidden mission

Roshan was arrested because he matched the physical profile of the killer, tall and athletic. ACP Bhavani Durga ordered his arrest based on this circumstantial evidence, further escalating tensions between police and the campus community.

Foreshadowing: The police are shown to rely on superficial evidence rather than solid clues throughout the investigation.

• roshan arrest
• wrong suspect
• height
• athletic build
• police error

Thekkan killed Ramachandran to cover his tracks after Ramachandran exposed the full conspiracy to the public. Realizing his crimes were about to be fully revealed, Thekkan shot Ramachandran in an attempt to flee, but was ultimately stopped and killed by Edward.

Foreshadowing: Ramachandran's growing conscience and willingness to reveal the truth signals his impending betrayal of Thekkan.

• ramachandran killed
• cover up
• thekkan escape
• final confrontation

Vedhika planned to expose a tangled web of secrets: a minister's affair with Ramlath, the murder of Krishnadas, and ACP Thekkan's criminal involvement in these events. Her intention to reveal these truths at the railway station meeting made her a target.

Foreshadowing: The constant references to secrets, affairs, and hidden truths throughout the film build toward this revelation.

• vedhika revelation
• minister affair
• ramlath
• krishnadas
• truth

The rival student groups united after Edward Livingston (Anto Antony) exposed the police's wrongful targeting of students and revealed that the real culprits were within the police force itself. When Shivanandan's goons attacked the campus, Edward united both factions to defend their community and seek justice for Vedhika and Unnikrishnan.

Foreshadowing: The rivalry between Real Fighters and Royal Warriors is established early, making their eventual unity a significant turning point.

• student unity
• real fighters
• royal warriors
• edward
• campus protest

Mani, the canteen in-charge, secretly spliced alcohol into the drinks meant for the Real Fighters who were supporting Unnikrishnan's plan to meet Vedhika. Unnikrishnan drank, got arrested by police, and was detained, though later released. This incident created campus unrest and set the stage for the tragic events that followed.

Foreshadowing: Mani's casual mixing of drinks in the canteen hints at his reckless nature and carefree attitude.

• mani
• alcohol
• canteen
• unnikrishnan arrested
• first arrest