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Timeline

Romantic (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 132 mins · Telugu
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Directed by
Anil Paduri
Starring
Ramya Krishnan, Makrand Deshpande, Uttej, Sunaina, Akash Puri, Ketika Sharma
Budget
$70M

Vasco De Gama Alberto and Monica are youngsters oh-so-in-love with each other. The only problem? Vasco is a wanted gangster.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (11)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Romantic
  6. 6 Every angle
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11 events in order · contains spoilers

Romantic Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Romantic (2021) 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. Vasco embraces crime and joins Rodrigues' gang

    Haunted by his parents' death, Vasco chooses crime as a path to fortune and to fulfill his grandmother Mary's dream. He partners with his childhood friend Annie and they join Rodrigues' gang, Goa's most notorious drug lord. Vasco quickly proves his street smarts and ruthless ambition, and begins rising through the Goa underworld. Before long, he becomes a kingpin who commands more power than his former allies.

    Where
    Goa
  2. Vasco falls for Monica and begins a forbidden romance

    Vasco is drawn to Monica, a young musician with charm and danger. Their affair begins amid wealth, power, and his blood-soaked world. The romance gives him a personal lure beyond the criminal empire.

    Where
    Goa
  3. Rodrigues is killed; Vasco proclaims himself kingpin

    After a failed drug deal, Vasco shoots Rodrigues, the man who mentored him. With Rodrigues out of the way, Vasco proclaims himself the new mafia king of Goa and consolidates control over the underworld. The power grab marks a ruthless turn in his ascent.

    Where
    Goa
  4. ACP Ramya Gowarikar arrives from Mumbai to take Vasco down

    Ramya Gowarikar, a dutiful and ruthless ACP, is transferred from Mumbai to Goa to nab Vasco. Her arrival sets in motion a relentless pursuit as she wages a strategic campaign against his expanding empire.

    Where
    Goa
  5. Samsun's theft and the drug-container conflict

    Samsun, Rodrigues' rival, targets Vasco to secure drugs worth crores and steals containers. The confrontation spawns a dangerous cat-and-mouse game among Samsun's men, Vasco's crew, and Ramya's police units.

    Where
    Goa
  6. Three-way pursuit intensifies

    A high-stakes cat-and-mouse game develops among Vasco's gang, Samsun's operatives, and Ramya's police. As the pursuit escalates, shifting alliances and close calls keep Goa on edge.

    Where
    Goa
  7. Vasco fulfills Grandma Mary's dream: build homes

    In a bid to secure loyalty and leave a legacy, Vasco completes his grandmother Mary's dream of building new homes for their community. The public achievement offers him a veneer of legitimacy, even as violence swirls around Goa.

    Where
    Goa
  8. Vasco eliminates Samsun

    Vasco confronts Samsun and eliminates him, removing a key rival from the drug trade. The move strengthens Vasco's grip on Goa's criminal networks while signaling the start of a terminal conflict.

    Where
    Goa
  9. Final showdown: Vasco vs Ramya

    In the climactic battle, ACP Ramya corners Vasco and shoots him dead. Vasco dies in the arms of his grandmother Mary, and he confesses his respect for Ramya, who reminded him of a sincere father figure. The fall signifies the fragility of power and the end of an era in Goa.

    Where
    Goa
  10. Monica's suicide after Vasco's death

    Overwhelmed by Vasco's death, Monica shoots herself in a moment of despair. Her tragedy closes the human cost of the rise to power and leaves Goa with a hollow victory for Ramya.

    Where
    Goa
  11. Ramya ends the drug mafia in Goa

    Ramya reflects on the couple's ill-fated romance, realizing that Vasco and Monica did not realize they were in love. She concludes that the drug mafia has ended in Goa, offering a somber note on the price of crime.

    Where
    Goa

Last updated: February 03, 2026 at 07:42

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Timeline questions answered

Romantic Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Romantic (2021): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Vasco turn to crime?

Vasco turns to crime after witnessing his parents' death. He decides to earn a fortune quickly to fulfill his grandmother Mary's dream of building homes for their community. Joining Rodrigues' gang in Goa gives him the means to rise rapidly in the underworld.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Vasco haunted by his parents' death, establishing his motivation for choosing the criminal path.

  • Vasco
  • crime
  • Rodrigues
  • grandmother Mary
  • Goa underworld
Q2

Why does Vasco kill Rodrigues?

Vasco kills Rodrigues after a botched drug deal. Rather than letting his mentor take the fall, Vasco sees an opportunity to seize control of Goa's drug empire. He eliminates Rodrigues and proclaims himself the new mafia king, consolidating power much faster than waiting for his turn.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Vasco's ambition exceeding his loyalty, as he quickly climbs past his fellow gang members.

  • Vasco
  • Rodrigues
  • drug deal
  • murder
  • kingpin
Q3

Why does Monica commit suicide?

Monica kills herself after witnessing Vasco's death. Overwhelmed by grief and the devastation caused by their relationship, she shoots herself in a moment of despair. Her tragedy represents the human cost of Vasco's violent ascent to power.

Foreshadowing: The romance is described as dangerous and consuming, with the story highlighting how their passion is entwined with the brutal realities of the drug trade.

  • Monica
  • suicide
  • grief
  • Vasco death
  • tragedy
Q4

What was Vasco's grandmother's dream?

Vasco's grandmother Mary dreams of building new homes for their community. This personal goal becomes Vasco's driving motivation throughout the film, giving his criminal ascent a seemingly noble purpose despite the violence it requires.

Foreshadowing: Vasco's initial turn to crime is directly linked to fulfilling his grandmother's dream, establishing early that family legacy matters to him.

  • Mary
  • grandmother
  • homes
  • community
  • dream
Q5

Who is Samsun and what role does he play?

Samsun is a rival drug lord who was competing with Rodrigues. After Rodrigues' death, Samsun schemes to seize drug worth crores from containers Vasco. This creates a three-way conflict between Vasco's gang, Samsun's faction, and ACP Ramya's police force, intensifying the cat-and-mouse game.

Foreshadowing: The timeline mentions Samsun eyeing the drug shipment early, establishing him as a looming threat before Vasco fully consolidates power.

  • Samsun
  • rival
  • drug containers
  • crime lord
  • conflict
Q6

How does Vasco die?

Vasco dies in the final confrontation with ACP Ramya. After eliminating his rival Samsun, Ramya corners him and shoots him fatally. Dying in his grandmother Mary's arms, Vasco confesses his respect for Ramya, seeing her as a sincere figure like his father.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Ramya as an unstoppable force pursuing Vasco throughout, making the final confrontation inevitable.

  • Vasco
  • Ramya
  • death
  • grandmother Mary
  • final confrontation
Q7

Why does ACP Ramya say Vasco and Monica didn't understand they were in love?

Ramya reflects that Vasco and Monica were consumed by passion and the dangerous world around them but never truly recognized their feelings as love. Their romance was intertwined with violence and ambition, leaving them blind to the deeper emotional connection until it was too late.

Foreshadowing: The romance is depicted as dangerous and consuming, with the story emphasizing how the criminal lifestyle blurred the lines between desire and genuine love.

  • Ramya
  • Monica
  • love
  • reflection
  • understanding
Q8

What happens to Vasco's criminal empire after his death?

With Vasco dead, his empire collapses. ACP Ramya concludes that the drug mafia era in Goa has ended. Vasco's dream of building homes for his community remains unfulfilled, and his violent rise ends in tragedy without lasting legacy.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, the narrative emphasizes the fragile nature of criminal power, with Ramya's relentless pursuit constantly threatening Vasco's position.

  • empire
  • collapse
  • Ramya
  • Goa
  • drug mafia

Movie threads

More Movies Like Romantic, by Mood & Story

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

Doomed crime romances like Romantic

Passionate love stories destined for tragedy within a criminal world. If you liked the tragic love story in Romantic, this thread features movies where passionate relationships are torn apart by a life of crime. Discover similar tales of doomed romance set against a backdrop of violence and the underworld.

  • tragic
  • passionate
  • doomed
  • violent
  • grim
  • intense
  • Tone: dark, tragic, passionate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: This narrative pattern follows two lovers, often from contrasting worlds, whose passion is overshadowed by the brutal reality of one partner's criminal life. The plot is typically a linear, fast-paced descent as external forces—rival gangs, police, or their own choices—systematically dismantle their chance at happiness, culminating in a devastating, often fatal, conclusion.

Why they belong together: Movies in this group are united by their core theme of love versus fate. They share a dark, intense tone, heavy emotional weight, and a fast-paced plot that relentlessly moves toward a tragic ending, creating a powerful and emotionally draining viewing experience.

Tragic antihero stories like in Romantic

Character-driven sagas of a criminal's violent ascent and inevitable collapse. Fans of Vasco's story in Romantic will appreciate this collection of movies about charismatic criminals on a fast track to power and a tragic fall. Explore similar narratives of ambition, violence, and the high cost of a life of crime.

  • grim
  • violent
  • tragic
  • fated
  • intense
  • downfall
  • Tone: grim, fatalistic, violent
  • Pacing: fast-paced, accelerating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a clear rise-and-fall arc. The antihero achieves a swift and violent rise to prominence, but their success is built on shaky ground. The story accelerates as betrayals, revenge, and escalating conflict lead to an unavoidable, catastrophic downfall, emphasizing the futility and tragedy of their path.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films that share a specific character arc and narrative structure. They feature a fast pace, high intensity, a straightforward but emotionally heavy plot, and a bleak tone focused on the destructive nature of the criminal lifestyle.

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Movies Like Romantic

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Every angle

Romantic (2021) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Romantic 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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