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Mulk (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 140 mins · Hindi
Echo score 82
Directed by
Anubhav Sinha
Starring
Prateik Babbar, Rishi Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Rajat Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana
Budget
$200M

Following a devastating bomb blast, a Muslim family in Benaras finds themselves facing suspicion and prejudice. The youngest son's involvement in terrorist activities triggers a crisis, forcing the family to fight to clear their names and demonstrate their innocence. They must confront accusations and defend themselves against those who wrongly label them as anti-nationals, struggling to maintain their honor and reputation within the community.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Mulk (2018)

Where can you watch Mulk? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Mulk Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Mulk (2018) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Murad's 65th Birthday Celebration

    The story begins with Murad Ali Mohammed celebrating his 65th birthday in a lively gathering with family, friends, and neighbors. This warmth and camaraderie showcase the close-knit relationships within the diverse community of Varanasi.

    When
    Day of Murad's 65th birthday
    Where
    Varanasi
  2. Shahid's Involvement with Terrorism

    In a parallel storyline, it is revealed that Murad's nephew, Shahid, has joined a terrorist organization led by Mehfooz Alam. Shahid's decision marks a turning point for the family as they are unknowingly intertwined with his dangerous affiliations.

  3. Shahid Executes the Attack

    The following morning after the birthday celebrations, Shahid travels to Allahabad to carry out a bomb blast as part of his terrorist mission. This attack results in significant casualties and sets off a chain of tragic events impacting Murad's family.

    When
    The day after Murad's birthday
    Where
    Allahabad
  4. Police Investigation Begins

    SSP Danish Javed is assigned to investigate the bombing and quickly narrows in on Shahid's connections. In the course of the investigation, he confronts Shahid, who tries to flee and is ultimately shot dead by the police.

  5. Family Interrogated

    The aftermath of the attack sees the police raiding Murad's home and interrogating family members. This invasive approach creates an atmosphere of fear and tension as the family's lives are turned upside down.

    Where
    Murad's home, Varanasi
  6. Bilaal's Custody

    Bilaal, Murad's brother, is taken into custody for further questioning due to his alleged connections with Shahid. The long hours of interrogation yield no significant information, raising concerns within the family regarding their safety and reputation.

    When
    After the bombing
  7. Public Backlash

    As news of Shahid's involvement in terrorism spreads, the community's perception of Murad's family shifts drastically. Friends and neighbors begin to ostracize them, leaving the family feeling isolated and shamed in their own neighborhood.

    Where
    Varanasi
  8. Court Hearing for Bilaal

    In a court proceeding, Judge Harish Madhok denies Bilaal bail, further entrenching the family's legal troubles. Murad refuses to accept Shahid's body, a poignant symbol of his disavowal of terrorism and the familial disgrace.

    Where
    Local Court, Varanasi
  9. Extremist Persuasion

    As Murad and his family face public humiliation, some extremist Muslims attempt to sway Murad by claiming Shahid was a martyr. Murad firmly rejects this notion, illustrating his commitment to peace and his disdain for extremism.

  10. Legal Proceedings Begin

    The legal turmoil escalates as public prosecutor Santosh Anand asserts that Shahid's actions reflect a broader pattern of Muslim terrorism. The prosecutor's argument implicates Murad's entire family in these criminal acts, stirring outrage.

    Where
    Local Court, Varanasi
  11. Bilaal's Heart Attack

    Overwhelmed by the stress and humiliation, Bilaal suffers a heart attack while being transported to the hospital. This tragic event marks the family's deepest point of despair as they navigate this harrowing situation.

  12. Aarti Defends the Family

    Aarti, Murad's daughter-in-law, steps up as the defense lawyer, arguing the lack of concrete evidence against the family. She challenges the prejudiced narrative that equates all Muslims with terrorism, advocating for their innocence.

    Where
    Local Court, Varanasi
  13. Emphasis on Misconceptions

    In court, Aarti emphasizes that the only person complicit in terrorism was Shahid himself. She highlights how societal views have unfairly branded innocent Muslim families as terrorists due to one individual's actions, creating a cycle of prejudice.

  14. Charges Dropped

    In a turning point for Murad's family, the court dismisses all charges against them, deeming the evidence circumstantial at best. Judge Madhok delivers a significant message about the mentality that needs to change among society.

    Where
    Local Court, Varanasi
  15. Ending Moral

    The film concludes with a powerful moral urging a shift in societal thinking from 'Us and Them' to 'We'. This message underscores the need for unity and understanding across cultural and religious divides.

Last updated: September 18, 2026 at 08:59

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Movie threads

More Movies Like Mulk, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Mulk tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Courtroom dramas about a family on trial like Mulk

When an entire household must prove its innocence against prejudice and suspicion. If you liked Mulk and want more movies like this, explore socially charged courtroom dramas where an entire family must defend its honor against communal suspicion and wrongful accusation. These films blend legal battles with heavy themes of identity, profiling, and the emotional cost of being judged for who you are rather than what you did. Perfect for viewers searching for Indian courtroom dramas, political family thrillers, and stories about prejudice under trial.

  • courtroom
  • family honor
  • wrongly accused
  • socially conscious
  • oppressive
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, somber, tense
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: An incident tied to a family member shatters an ordinary household, pulling them into police interrogation, public vilification, and a courtroom fight for their name. The story unfolds in measured beats, moving from accusation and ostracism to investigation, testimony, and a verdict that often restores legality but not full peace. Character arcs center on a patriarch or matriarch forced to balance grief, shame, and stubborn dignity, while younger members confront identity, loyalty, and what it means to belong to a community that now fears them.

Why they belong together: These films share a courtroom-forward structure where the legal process becomes a mirror for larger social prejudice. They pair steady, procedural pacing with high emotional intensity, dark tones, and heavy themes of wrongful accusation, profiling, and family honor. The communal damage rarely disappears even when the verdict offers relief, giving the endings a mixed, bittersweet quality.

Heavy minority identity and communal prejudice films like Mulk

Heavy stories of profiling, prejudice, and the quiet war inside belonging. Movies like Mulk that explore religious profiling, Islamophobia, and the social ostracism of minority communities. This thread features politically charged, emotionally heavy dramas where families wrestle with identity, belonging, and communal prejudice in the wake of terrorism or extremism. Great for fans searching for socially conscious Indian films, stories about Islamophobia and discrimination, and dramas where grief and dignity collide with unjust suspicion.

  • Islamophobia
  • communal prejudice
  • identity
  • belonging
  • oppressive
  • somber
  • Tone: oppressive, somber, anxious
  • Pacing: steady, weighty
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A terror attack or communal shock wave turns ordinary life into a siege, and a minority family or community must navigate suspicion from neighbors, police, media, and the law. The story stays close to the emotional interior of its characters, layering grief with quiet defiance, while also showing how institutions and crowds enforce guilt by association. Resolution, if it comes, is fragile: a courtroom win or a moral speech, but the loss of a loved one and the lasting communal damage keep the ending unsettled and heavy.

Why they belong together: These films are bound together by their focus on religious and ethnic profiling, claustrophobic social pressure, and the toll of being collectively suspected. They share a dark, somber tone, steady pacing, high emotional weight, and disturbing themes around terrorism and discrimination. Viewers looking for stories that foreground identity, belonging, and the cost of prejudice will find this cluster cohesive and resonant.

Every angle

Mulk (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Mulk in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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