Well Done Abba

Well Done Abba

Year: 2009

Runtime: 144 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Shyam Benegal

Comedy

Armaan Ali, a Mumbai driver employed by a senior executive, takes a month’s leave to arrange a marriage for his teenage daughter who lives near Hyderabad. His search drags on, and after three months he returns to find his boss ready to fire him. Persuaded to explain, Armaan recounts a tale that is both hilarious and moving, revealing why his delay was inevitable.

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Timeline & Setting – Well Done Abba (2009)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Well Done Abba (2009). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The story unfolds in contemporary India, with present-day urban centers and rural communities intertwined by family duties and social issues. It depicts current governance interactions, from government offices to ministers, and public protests driven by drought relief needs. The setting alternates between Mumbai, a drought‑affected village, and Pune, underscoring the real-world pace of bureaucratic responses and community resilience.

Location

Mumbai, village near Hyderabad, Pune

The film moves between Mumbai, a bustling metropolis where Armaan works as a driver, and a drought‑stricken village near Hyderabad where family and community life unfold. In Mumbai, the city’s pace contrasts with village life, highlighting social and economic pressures on Armaan. The plot also takes the story to Pune for a government meeting, illustrating how urban centers and regional towns interact in the pursuit of solutions. Together, these places show a modern India navigating between ambition, hardship, and collective action.

🌆 Mumbai 🏞️ Village near Hyderabad 🚜 Rural-urban dynamics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:56

Main Characters – Well Done Abba (2009)

Meet the key characters of Well Done Abba (2009), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Armaan Ali

Armaan Ali is a devoted father and Mumbai-based driver who takes a one-month leave from his job to find a suitable groom for his daughter Muskan. His single-minded focus on family drives him to push through obstacles, including debt and bureaucratic delays. He shows persistence, optimism, and a willingness to protest when institutions fail his community.

👤 Protagonist 👔 Driver 🧭 Leader

Muskan Ali

Muskan Ali is Armaan's daughter, who becomes entangled in love with Arif and pushes back against a forced or traditional marriage. She participates in family decisions and supports her father’s mission to solve the village's drought crisis. Her actions reflect independence within family ties and concern for communal well-being.

👤 Daughter 💞 Lover 🧭 Independent

Arif Ali

Arif Ali is the debt-collector in the village who demands money from Armaan. He is a conflicted yet pivotal figure who catalyzes both the debt subplot and the romantic arc with Muskan. His evolution mirrors the film's broader themes of trust, belonging, and social friction.

👤 Antagonist 💸 Debtor 👫 Love interest

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:56

Major Themes – Well Done Abba (2009)

Explore the central themes of Well Done Abba (2009), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👪 Family

Family duty drives Armaan's decisions, pushing him to risk his job to secure a future for his daughter. The narrative centers on sacrifices, responsibility, and the tension between individual wishes and familial obligations. The well-being of Muskan and the wider family motivates actions and shapes choices throughout the story. Community support and kinship sustain people through hardship.

💧 Drought

Water scarcity is the central pressure that unlocks the plot. The attempt to build a government well embodies hope, frustration, and collective effort from villagers. Bureaucracy and delays heighten suffering, sparking protests and calls for accountability. The drought acts as a catalyst that binds characters to a common cause and reveals the resilience of rural communities.

⚖️ Protest

Protest and justice drive the plot as villagers challenge unresponsiveness from authorities. The police inspector’s slack behavior is exposed and punished, illustrating how accountability can emerge from collective action. The march from the village to the minister’s office shows how ordinary people can influence policy. The eventual government intervention demonstrates that rights can be won through organized civic pressure.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:56

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Well Done Abba Summary

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Well Done Abba Summary

Well Done Abba Timeline

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Well Done Abba Timeline

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Well Done Abba Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Well Done Abba

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