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.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Yateem (1988)

Trace every key event in Yateem (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Adoption begins after a fatal police encounter

Inspector Shiv Kumar Yadav kills a criminal couple during a police encounter, saving the infant Krishna. He is moved by the child's helpless state and decides to adopt him, giving him the Yadav surname. Krishna grows up in the Yadav household alongside Shiv Kumar's daughter Gauri, forming a deep bond.

Crime scene / police encounter location
2

Childhood bond and stigma

Krishna and Gauri are raised together despite jeers from the community that label Krishna as the 'son of a dacoit'. They share secrets, support each other, and their friendship deepens into love as they grow older.

Yadav household
3

Krishna pursues justice: joining the police

Feeling compelled to honor his adoptive father, Krishna enrolls in the police force and trains to become an officer. He embraces his role as protector, driven by a strong moral code. His journey marks the beginning of a lifelong quest to prove himself.

Police Academy
4

Shiv Kumar remarries Chanchal

While Krishna is at the academy, Shiv Kumar remarries a much younger woman named Chanchal. Chanchal is depicted as cunning and manipulative, with a secret affair with Inspector Mathur. The new marriage sows tension within the family.

Shiv Kumar's home
5

Chanchal seduces Krishna

Upon Krishna's return as a newly minted inspector, Chanchal is instantly drawn to him and begins attempting to seduce him through domestic proximity. Krishna resists, remaining loyal to Gauri but sensing danger to his family. The unresolved tension foreshadows a dangerous confrontation.

Yadav household
6

Chanchal plots to control the family by marrying Gauri to Girivar

Chanchal doubles down on her scheme to gain wealth and control by arranging a marriage between Gauri and Inspector Girivar Prasad Mathur. She believes securing Gauri's alliance will consolidate power and destroy Krishna's standing. Gauri refuses to be a pawn in their games.

Yadav household / arranged marriage setting
7

False rape accusation and Krishna's arrest

Chanchal accuses Krishna of raping her, exploiting Shiv Kumar's trusting nature. Blinded by his wife's lies, Shiv Kumar has his adopted son arrested and jailed. The stigma of the accusation threatens Krishna's career and their family's integrity.

Police station / home
8

Krishna escapes and crashes the wedding to save Gauri

Krishna learns of the forced marriage and engineers a daring prison break. He disrupts the wedding ceremony in a high-stakes raid and abducts Gauri to shield her from the arrangement. They flee together toward danger while pursued by Girivar's men.

Prison and wedding venue; chase into the Chambal
9

Flight to the Chambal ravines

Seeking refuge, Krishna and Gauri escape into the desolate ravines of Chambal. The treacherous terrain tests their resolve as they evade both the police and Girivar's henchmen. The ravines become the crucible where Krishna's past and present collide.

Chambal ravines
10

Confrontation with Purkhiya and truth about Krishna's origins

In the Chambal hideout, Krishna encounters Purkhiya, the feared dacoit leader connected to his father's past. Through tense confrontations, Krishna learns the full truth about his parents' deaths and his real identity. He discovers his father was a victim of a corrupt system rather than a heartless criminal.

Chambal ravines
11

Krishna's decision: clear his name and expose the traitors

Armed with the truth, Krishna devises a plan to clear his name and reveal Chanchal and Girivar's treachery. He uses his police training and intimate knowledge of the ravines to outmaneuver them in a climactic confrontation. The victory comes at a personal cost, testing his loyalty and love.

Chambal ravines / climactic confrontation
12

Resolution: truth revealed and reunion with Gauri

With the deceit exposed, Krishna is vindicated and reconciled with the truth of his identity. He is finally recognized as worthy not by blood but by character, and he reunites with Gauri, the girl who never stopped believing in him. The couple begins a hopeful future together.

Chambal ravines / home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:33

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