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Uma (2018) movie poster

Timeline

Uma (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 149 mins · Bengali, Bangla
Directed by
Srijit Mukherji
Starring
Dev, Srabanti Chatterjee, Rudranil Ghosh, Anjan Dutt, Jisshu Sengupta, Prosenjit Chatterjee

A young girl facing a terminal illness desperately wants to experience the vibrant Durga Pooja festival in Kolkata. Her devoted father and a filmmaker team up, embarking on a heartfelt journey to create a simulated version of the celebration, hoping to fulfill her cherished wish and bring a moment of joy into her life.

Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Uma (2018)

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

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Uma Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Uma (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. Uma's terminal diagnosis in Zurich

    Uma, a young girl living in Zurich, is told by a doctor that she has barely two months to live. The prognosis shatters her family and heightens her resolve to experience Kolkata's Durga Puja before time runs out.

    When
    present
    Where
    Zurich, Switzerland

  2. Promise to visit Kolkata and the plan forms

    Himadri, Uma's caretaker, had promised to take her to Kolkata for the Durga Puja, but work pressures threaten the trip. He begins to explore ways to fulfill Uma's dream, setting up a plan to stage a fake Durga Puja in her honor.

    When
    after diagnosis
    Where
    Zurich

  3. Gobindo finds a director to helm the scheme

    Gobindo locates Brahmananda Chakraborty, a director who agrees to help mount a fake Durga Puja for Uma. The proposal shifts from a simple journey to a cinematic, festival-scale project.

    When
    pre-puja phase
    Where
    Kolkata

  4. Brahmananda's past resurfaces

    A flashback reveals the director's failed career, a broken family, and his longing to give his life a meaningful project. These memories drive his decision to help Uma, hoping to craft a beautiful moment for her.

    When
    past
    Where
    Memory/Residency

  5. Proposal accepted after a talk at his residence

    Brahmananda meets Himadri at his residence and proposes to direct the Durga Puja plan. After a brief discussion, he agrees, setting the stage for a staged festival in Kolkata.

    When
    pre-puja phase
    Where
    Kolkata

  6. Auditions for Uma's mother and the selection of Marium

    The crew auditions several women to play Uma's mother. After many attempts, a suitable woman named Marium is found who can step into the role and care for Uma during the festival.

    When
    pre-puja phase
    Where
    Kolkata

  7. Mohitosh resists the fake Puja and legal maneuvers ensue

    Mohitosh opposes the mock festival and attempts to bring the matter to authorities. Gobindo arranges a legal workaround by bribing the lawyer, complicating Mohitosh's efforts to stop it.

    When
    pre-puja phase
    Where
    Kolkata

  8. Uma's arrival and the electricity dispute

    Himadri brings Uma from Zurich to Kolkata, where the electricity department initially denies permission for the setup. An officer named Indra confronts Himadri, leading to a tense exchange.

    When
    arrival day
    Where
    Kolkata

  9. A grand welcome and Uma meets her 'mother'

    Uma is welcomed by the community and meets Marium, the woman chosen to be her mother for the Puja. A real actress, Menoka, is revealed to be Uma's biological mother, but she remains distant.

    When
    start of festival
    Where
    Kolkata

  10. Dashami crowd crisis and the goon's mercy

    With junior artists scarce on Dashami, Mohitosh seeks help from a local Bihari goon. The goon, moved by Uma's plea and his own past, agrees to supply the crowd needed for the Visarjan after a tense exchange.

    When
    Dashami night
    Where
    Kolkata

  11. Dashami night: Visarjan and Uma's fainting

    The Durga Puja reaches its emotional peak as Uma participates in the celebrations, then unexpectedly faints. The moment underscores the fragility of her health and the emotional investment of everyone involved.

    When
    Dashami night
    Where
    Kolkata

  12. Indra reveals lies and Menoka's role

    Indra visits Himadri and reveals that Menoka, though a key figure and Uma's real mother, is not her biological mother. He points Uma toward Marium, acknowledging the sacrifice she makes as a caregiver, and Menoka is forced to confront the past.

    When
    post-puja
    Where
    Kolkata

  13. Mohitosh's vow to fulfill Uma's last wish

    Having learned the reason behind the fake Puja, Mohitosh resolves to do whatever it takes to fulfill Uma's last wish. The community rallies to support her dream despite earlier opposition.

    When
    post-puja
    Where
    Kolkata

  14. Medical approval and reflection on the journey

    A few days later, doctors approve a possible operation to extend Uma's life. Marium remains involved, and Uma, Himadri, and Marium reflect on the journey as Uma writes to her family about the experiences.

    When
    post-approval
    Where
    Kolkata

  15. Inspiration from Evan Leversage

    The plot notes that it is inspired by the true events surrounding Evan Leversage, grounding the film in a real-life story of hope and heartbreak across borders. The parallel emphasizes Uma's fragile resilience.

    When
    inspiration note
    Where
    Ontario, Canada

Last updated: February 18, 2026 at 23:43

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Timeline questions answered

Uma Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Uma (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Himadri stage a fake Durga Puja instead of taking Uma to a real one?

Himadri staged a fake Durga Puja because Uma was terminally ill with barely two months left, making a real trip impossible. More importantly, he wanted to give her an exclusive, grand celebration just for her, something a real festival crowded with thousands of people could never provide. A real Durga Puja would also have beenlogistically challenging given her deteriorating health and the need for constant medical care.

  • fake durga puja
  • himadri
  • uma
  • terminal illness
  • Kolkata
Q2

Who is Uma's real mother - Menoka or Marium?

Marium is revealed to be Uma's real biological mother, not Menoka. Menoka was an actress who was originally believed to be Uma's mother, but Indra clarifies that Menoka is not her biological mother. Marium, the woman who played Uma's mother during the fake Puja, is actually her real mother and stays with Uma at the end.

  • uma's mother
  • marium
  • menoka
  • biological mother
  • parentage
Q3

Why did Brahmananda agree to direct the fake Puja?

Brahmananda agreed because he saw it as a chance at redemption. A flashback reveals his career had failed with multiple box-office flops, his wife and son had drifted apart, and he was living with the weight of his past failures. Uma's dying wish represented a meaningful project that could give his life purpose again, a chance to create something beautiful rather than another failure.

  • brahmananda
  • filmmaker
  • director
  • redemption
  • fake puja
Q4

Why did Mohitosh oppose the fake Puja and then help at the end?

Mohitosh initially opposed the fake Puja because he saw it as a mockery of sacred tradition, he even considered legal action to stop it. However, after learning the truth about Uma's terminal condition and her final wish, his perspective shifted dramatically. On Dashami night, he even went to the Bihari goon to request help securing enough people for the Visarjan ceremony, becoming an ally instead of an antagonist.

  • mohitosh
  • opposition
  • fake puja
  • tradition
  • dashami
Q5

Why was officer Indra blocking the electricity and permits?

Indra, a government officer, initially denied electricity and permit approvals for the fake Puja setup, creating a major obstacle. This wasn't explained in detail in the summary, but it represented the bureaucratic resistance the crew had to overcome. Later, his side of the story is clarified and the community rallies to support the effort.

  • indra
  • officer
  • electricity
  • permits
  • government
  • Kolkata
Q6

Why did the Bihari goon help provide the crowd for Dashami?

The Bihari goon, who had previously been a threat, agreed to supply the needed crowd for Dashami after a tense exchange. Moved by Uma's plea and perhaps reflecting on his own life, he chose to help rather than stand in the way. This moment represents one of many transformations in the film where people overcome their initial objections when faced with the reality of Uma's situation.

  • bihari goon
  • dashami
  • crowd
  • visarjan
  • help
Q7

Why had Himadri never taken Uma to Kolkata before?

Himadri had promised Uma before that he would take her to Kolkata for Durga Puja, but his demanding work schedule always prevented him from doing so. After receiving her terminal diagnosis with barely two months left, he realized he had run out of time and resolved to finally fulfill his promise, albeit in an unconventional way by staging the celebration for her.

  • himadri
  • promise
  • Kolkata
  • work
  • durga puja
Q8

What happens when Uma faints during the Dashami celebrations?

During the emotional peak of Dashami, Uma participates in the celebrations and experiences genuine joy, but then she unexpectedly faints. This moment underscores the fragility of her health and serves as a heartbreaking reminder that despite the beautiful experience being created for her, her terminal condition remains dire. The fainting intensifies the emotional weight for everyone involved.

  • uma faints
  • dashami
  • celebration
  • health
  • terminal
Q9

What happens to Uma at the end of the movie?

After the Puja ends, Himadri shows Uma an old photograph of her biological mother, leading to a painful but necessary acknowledgment of the truth. The film ends on a tender note: doctors approve a possible operation that could extend Uma's life, Marium stays in her life, and Uma writes to her newfound family about the experiences and hope she now holds. The ending is bittersweet, her wish was fulfilled, but her fate remains uncertain.

  • ending
  • uma
  • operation
  • hope
  • marium
  • recovery

Movie threads

More Movies Like Uma, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about final wishes like Uma

Stories about fulfilling a dying person's last, deeply personal desire. If you were touched by Uma's story of a father fulfilling his daughter's last wish, you'll find more heartfelt movies like it here. These films explore similar journeys of love, dedication, and creating joy in the face of terminal illness.

  • heartfelt
  • emotional
  • sorrowful
  • uplifting
  • melancholic
  • devoted
  • Tone: bittersweet, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, purposeful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Movies in this thread typically follow a central character or group who learns of a loved one's terminal prognosis. The plot revolves around the logistical and emotional challenge of making a cherished dream come true, often bringing a community together and leading to personal redemption or reconciliation for those involved. The journey is as much about the characters' healing as it is about the final act.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core narrative of fulfilling a final wish, creating a unique blend of heavy emotional weight with uplifting, heartfelt effort. They resonate with viewers seeking stories about the power of love, community, and finding beauty in sorrow.

One Last Thing... movie poster

One Last Thing...

2006
Never Ending Story movie poster

Never Ending Story

2012
Wish 143 movie poster

Wish 143

2009
The Three Wishes of Billy Grier movie poster

The Three Wishes of Billy Grier

1984
The Hasty Heart movie poster

The Hasty Heart

1949
Dying Young movie poster

Dying Young

1991
Dark Victory movie poster

Dark Victory

1939
Look Both Ways movie poster

Look Both Ways

2006

Movies where a community comes together like in Uma

Stories where a community unites to achieve a profoundly personal goal. Fans of Uma will appreciate these other films where a community rallies around a central, emotional cause. Discover more movies with a similar feel, where collective effort brings hope and creates poignant, bittersweet moments of human connection.

  • community
  • hopeful
  • heartfelt
  • emotional
  • uplifting
  • redemption
  • Tone: hopeful, melancholic, uplifting
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves an initial obstacle that seems insurmountable for an individual or family. This challenge inspires or forces the wider community to become involved, leading to a story about collaboration, overcoming differences, and shared purpose. The focus is on the process of uniting diverse people and the emotional resonance of the collective achievement, which often carries a bittersweet weight due to the underlying serious theme.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their central theme of communal action in the face of emotional adversity. They share a specific tone that balances the sadness of the situation with the hope and warmth generated by people working together for a noble cause.

Look Both Ways movie poster

Look Both Ways

2006
Boys on the Side movie poster

Boys on the Side

1995
Though None Go with Me movie poster

Though None Go with Me

2006
Listen to Your Heart movie poster

Listen to Your Heart

2010
Let There Be Light movie poster

Let There Be Light

2017
To the Stars movie poster

To the Stars

2019
A Good Person movie poster

A Good Person

2023
Cavedweller movie poster

Cavedweller

2004

Every angle

Uma (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Uma 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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