Parinda

Parinda

Year: 1989

Runtime: 154 mins

Language: Hindi

CrimeDramaAction

Brothers Kishan and Karan are raised in Bombay. Karan departs for studies in America, while Kishan becomes entangled in the criminal world, serving the drug lord Anna Seth. Upon Karan’s return to Bombay, Kishan strives to shield his brother from the underworld, but events spiral beyond his control.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Parinda yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Parinda (1989) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Parinda (1989), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Karan Choudhary [Anil Kapoor] and Kishan Choudhary [Jackie Shroff] grew up on the rough streets of Bombay, where survival meant sticking close to each other. To give Karan a better chance at life, Kishan begins working for Anna Seth [Nana Patekar], a powerful gangster who runs an oil factory that hides a web of illegal schemes. Karan returns to Bombay after finishing his studies in the United States, unaware of the depths of Anna’s criminal empire or Kishan’s exact role in it. Meanwhile, Inspector Prakash Nair [Anupam Kher], a friend to Karan, suspects Anna’s criminal ties but cannot mount a case without solid evidence.

The tension thickens when Anna plots to remove Prakash during a family reunion with Karan. In a bid to shield his friend, Kishan secures an earlier flight for Karan, yet the plan goes awry as Anna’s men shoot Prakash, who dies in Karan’s arms. Paromita “Paro” Nair [Madhuri Dixit], Prakash’s sister and Karan’s childhood friend, begins to doubt Karan’s innocence, even as Karan learns from Anna’s former messenger Iqbal [Sameer Kakkar] that Anna is the true mastermind behind Prakash’s murder and that Kishan works for him. The two lovers find themselves pulled into a dangerous web of suspicion and confiding hurt, and their bond tightens even as Paro slowly trusts Karan again.

A few days later, Abdul [Suresh Oberoi] is arrested, and Karan identifies him as one of Prakash’s killers. Kishan warns Karan against testifying, and the tension spikes when Abdul extorts silence by threatening Kishan with danger back at home. The pressure mounts as Karan weighs the cost of truth against the fragile safety of his brother and his beloved Paro. When Karan is called to identify the assailants at police headquarters, Abdul’s threats push him toward a grim choice: stay silent or risk Kishan’s life by testifying. He chooses to keep quiet, and instead decides to get close to Anna by joining his gang, attempting to navigate the murky loyalties from within.

Anna tests Karan’s resolve by ordering him to shoot Iqbal, who, in a final twist, shoots himself so Karan can proceed with his covert mission without carrying the burden of guilt. The next day, Anna orders Karan to eliminate rival gangster Musa [Tom Alter], accompanied by his gunman Francis [Shivkumar Subramaniam]. Karan ends up killing Francis and switching sides to Musa, abducting Rama Reddy [Kamal Chopra] to bring him to Musa. He stages evidence of Rama’s betrayal, snapping pictures that imply Rama shot Francis, and then murders Rama on Anna’s orders. With Musa’s help, Karan completes Abdul’s removal and advances his own plan to avenge Prakash’s death.

As the plan unfolds, Karan and Paro marry and start to dream of leaving the city behind. Musa reveals to Karan that he had been manipulated, which leads Anna to strike back with decisive force: on their wedding night, he shoots and kills both Karan and Paro. The tragedy leaves Paro’s sister and Karan’s friend Kishan burning with vengeance, and he heads to Anna’s residence to deliver his own brutal reckoning, burning Anna to death as a final act of retribution for the losses that crushed his brother and his city.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:31

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Gritty Urban Crime Tragedies like Parinda

Gritty tales of moral collapse and brutal revenge within a city's criminal heart.If you were captivated by the brutal Bombay underworld of Parinda, this collection features movies with similar high-intensity urban crime drama. Explore other stories of tragic heroes, moral corruption, and ruthless vendettas set against the backdrop of a merciless city. These films share a dark tone, fast pacing, and a heavy emotional weight leading to bleak conclusions.

grittytragicvengefulclaustrophobicmercilesssuspensefulanxious

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows characters—often brothers, partners, or friends—who become ensnared in a criminal ecosystem they cannot control. A central betrayal or traumatic event triggers a spiral of violence, forcing protagonists to make devastating moral choices. The story arcs are propelled by revenge, culminating in a final act of bloody retribution that offers little catharsis, only loss.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific combination of a gritty urban setting, a high-intensity plot driven by crime and revenge, and a uniformly dark, tragic tone. The pacing is often fast, reflecting the chaotic and inescapable nature of the world depicted. The emotional journey is consistently heavy, focusing on themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the high cost of violence.

Movies about Tragic Brotherhood and Betrayal like Parinda

Heartbreaking stories where familial bonds are shattered by violence and impossible choices.If the tragic dynamic between Kishan and Karan in Parinda resonated with you, explore these movies about brotherly bonds tested by crime and violence. These stories focus on the heavy emotional cost of loyalty, the pain of betrayal, and the ultimate sacrifice, often ending in bleak, devastating conclusions similar to the fate of the characters in Parinda.

tragicheavyvengefulanxiousheartbreakingsuspensefulmerciless

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a well-intentioned but flawed protector and an idealized innocent. The protector's involvement in a dangerous world inevitably drags the innocent into the crossfire, leading to a pivotal, traumatic event (often a murder). This event shatters the family unit and triggers a final, vengeful confrontation that resolves nothing but leaves a trail of anguish.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their central focus on a tragic fraternal relationship fractured by external forces. They share a heavy emotional weight derived from the theme of failed protection and inevitable loss. The tone is universally dark, and the pacing is often fast as the narrative escalates towards an unavoidable, bleak culmination of the central conflict.

Unlock the Full Story of Parinda

Don't stop at just watching — explore Parinda in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Parinda is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Parinda Timeline

Track the full timeline of Parinda with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Parinda Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Parinda

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Parinda. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Parinda

Parinda Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Parinda that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Parinda Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Parinda

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Parinda: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Parinda

Similar Movies to Parinda

Discover movies like Parinda that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.