Njan Gandharvan

Njan Gandharvan

Year: 1991

Runtime: 146 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: P. Padmarajan

RomanceDramaFantasy

An ethereal fantasy follows a young woman who finds a weather‑worn wooden statue on a deserted beach. From the statue a celestial lover appears, visible only to her, igniting an intense, otherworldly passion. While she is drawn into this supernatural romance, everyone else sees merely an ordinary figure, leaving her torn between reality and the unseen divine.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Njan Gandharvan (1991)

Trace every key event in Njan Gandharvan (1991) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Bhama finds the wooden sculpture on the beach

Bhama, a study-tour student, discovers a carved wooden sculpture on the beach and decides to keep it. That night in her hotel, the sculpture comes alive and passionately kisses her before vanishing. This eerie encounter seeds a mysterious bond that will recur throughout the story.

Night of the study tour Beach during a study tour
2

The sculpture reappears as a man during study leave

During her study leave, Bhama senses a presence and follows it to a tree, where a blue butterfly appears. A voice introduces itself as a gandharva who has taken a liking to her. The man materializes before her as Devan, a handsome stranger she is drawn to.

During study leave Near the tree
3

Devan and Bhama fall in love; Rudhiraksham gifted

Bhama falls in love with Devan, who explains that he is Indra's slave and cannot remember his past once he returns to Devaloka. He warns that he is bound by divine laws, yet he offers Bhama a diamond called Rudhiraksham as a token of their bond. He tells her that she can summon him by kissing the diamond.

During their growing relationship Various places in their lives
4

Pradeep pursues Bhama; Devan wins over the family

Pradeep, Bhama's fiancé, tries to woo her, but she resists his advances. Bhama and Devan are seen together at restaurants and parks, which Pradeep reports to Bhama's mother. Devan then visits Bhama's house and uses his musical talent to win over her mother and grandmother, who begin to favor their union.

Before the marriage is settled Restaurants, parks; Bhama's house
5

Devan loses his voice; the Paala tree warns of punishment

One evening, Devan loses his voice. A voice speaks from the fallen branch of the Paala tree, warning that he has broken the laws of Devaloka and will be punished by Chitraradhan. Bhama and Devan try to flee but are thwarted, and Bhama is warned not to summon him again with Rudhiraksham.

Evening Paala tree area / vicinity
6

Family concern and Bhama's dilemma

Bhama's family grows worried about her happiness and accepts the idea of her marriage to Devan. They push her toward a decision, hoping to secure her future, while she struggles with the looming divine punishment.

After the warning Bhama's family home
7

Bhama summons Devan despite warning

Against the warning, Bhama uses the Rudhiraksham to summon Devan. Devan does not appear, and Bhama is subjected to visions of punishments yet to come for the gandharvan. The moment deepens her pain and the sense that their love may be doomed.

Night after warning Bhama's home
8

Devan returns and reveals his torture

More than a week passes before Devan returns to Bhama. He explains that he endured seven nights and seven days of torture in Chitraradhan's celestial palace for appearing in public and singing for others. He reveals the severity of his punishment and the cost of loving a mortal.

A week later Celestial halls / Devaloka details (recounted to Bhama)
9

Brahma's pronouncement and the heavy punishment

A burning celestial handcuff falls on Devan's forearm, and Brahma speaks, warning of harsher punishments in Naraka for his desire for mortal life. He is forbidden from all sunlit days and moonlit nights, and Rudhiraksham loses its power. Brahma reveals that only by taking Bhama's virginity before the Seventeenth Wind can Devan erase their memories.

Celestial intervention Divine realm / celestial palace
10

The final decision: sacrifice to save him

Devan chooses not to submit to the harsher fate free of memory, and Bhama volunteers to sacrifice her virginity to save him. They spend a passionate night together, hoping to erase his memories and give him a chance at life away from divine punishment. The act marks the culmination of their love amid impossible odds.

Night before Seventeenth Wind Bhama's room / intimate setting
11

The Seventeenth Wind and Devan's disappearance

As the Seventeenth Wind of the Night arrives, Devan vanishes after their union. Bhama is left weeping, realizing that their memories and each other may be erased as the consequences of their choices unfold. The tale ends with her longing for him as night falls.

Seventeenth Wind of the Night In the night, after their union

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:02

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Njan Gandharvan

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