Yateem

Yateem

Year: 1988

Runtime: 173 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: J. P. Dutta

ActionDrama

After Inspector Yadav (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) kills a criminal couple, he adopts their infant son Krishna. Krishna grows up with Yadav’s daughter Gauri (Farha), and the two fall in love as adults. Their happiness is jeopardized when Yadav’s second wife (Sujata Mehta), attracted to Krishna, schemes to ruin their relationship.

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Timeline & Setting – Yateem (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Yateem (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Chambal Ravines, Yadav Household, Police Station, Police Academy

The story unfolds across the rugged Chambal hinterlands, the close-knit Yadav home, and the bustling police environment. The Chambal region is famous in Indian cinema for its treacherous terrain and history of dacoit activity, which provides a tense stage for Krishna's upbringing and the family’s struggles. The film also moves between the police academy where Krishna trains and the central precincts where justice is tested.

🏞️ Chambal Ravines 🏠 Yadav Household 👮 Police World ⚖️ Legal and Moral Dilemma

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:33

Main Characters – Yateem (1988)

Meet the key characters of Yateem (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Krishna (Sunny Deol)

An adopted son raised in the Yadav household who earns his own badge through principled police work. He endures prejudice for being called the son of a dacoit, yet he remains loyal to Gauri and to a code of justice that transcends birth. His path from a taunted youth to a commissioned inspector is driven by integrity and love.

💡 Heroic 🕊️ Loyal 🛡️ Lawful

Shiv Kumar Yadav (Kulbhushan Kharbanda)

A principled police officer who adopts Krishna after a deadly encounter. His faith in the law is tested when his new wife, Chanchal, weaves deceit, leading him to arrest the very son he raised. He is torn between duty and family honor, a patriarch caught in a web of betrayal.

👮 Authority 🧭 Duty 💔 Family

Gauri S. Yadav (Farha Naaz)

Krishna’s steadfast love and ally, who refuses to be controlled by others’ schemes. She stands by Krishna through the threat of forced marriage and social pressure, embodying resilience and loyalty.

💞 Love 🛡️ Strong-willed 👩‍❤️‍👨 Partnership

Chanchal S. Yadav (Sujata Mehta)

Shiv Kumar’s younger wife, a cunning and manipulative woman who resents Krishna. She engineers jealousy and seeks to punish Krishna by falsely accusing him of rape, then plotting to secure wealth through a forced marriage.

🗡️ Manipulation 💰 Ambition 😈 Scheming

Girivar Prasad Mathur (Danny Denzongpa)

An influential inspector who colludes with Chanchal in plotting against Krishna and Gauri. His deceit and ambition threaten to upend the Yadav family's security, highlighting the corruption within the system.

💼 Corruption 🧭 Power 🕵️‍♂️ Insider

Purkhiya (Amrish Puri)

The feared dacoit leader whose ravines serve as Krishna’s battleground. His cadre embodies the brutal reality of Chambal’s lawlessness, and Krishna’s confrontation with Purkhiya becomes a crucible that tests truth, loyalty, and courage.

🗺️ Outlaw 🐅 Ferocity ⚔️ Showdown

Ujagar Singh (Dalip Tahil)

A criminal couple is killed in a police encounter by Shiv Kumar, sparking the events that lead Krishna to be raised by the Yadavs. His death haunts the early chapters and fuels the moral conflict surrounding Krishna’s adoption and the fight against crime.

💀 Crime 🗡️ Death 🧭 Fate

Mrs. Yadav (Dina Pathak)

The elder matriarch in the Yadav circle who taunts Krishna for being the ‘son of a dacoit.’ Her skepticism adds pressure to Krishna’s quest for respect within the family, illustrating the social stigma he endures.

👵 Ancestry 🗨️ Gossip 🛡️ Honor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:33

Major Themes – Yateem (1988)

Explore the central themes of Yateem (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪪 Identity

Krishna grows up facing questions of belonging, being known more by his actions and choices than by blood. Adoption and loyalty to the Yadav family force him to define who he is beyond lineage. The revelation of his true origins drives the moral arc, shaping his sense of justice and self-worth.

⚖️ Justice

The narrative pits legal protocols against moral truth when Krishna is falsely accused and imprisoned. Corruption and deceit threaten to derail the quest for truth, forcing characters to choose between personal vendettas and the greater good. The climax hinges on exposing lies and redeeming a tarnished system.

❤️ Love and Loyalty

Krishna’s bond with Gauri anchors the story, testing loyalty amid manipulation and social pressure. Chanchal’s schemes threaten family ties, pushing characters to defend love and trust over status. The romance survives deception, culminating in a reunion built on perseverance and faith.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:33

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Yateem Summary

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