Drohkaal (Times of Treason) is a 1994 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed and produced by Govind Nihalani, which deals with India’s fight against terrorism. The movie stars seasoned actors like Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, and Amrish Puri, along with newcomers like Mita Vashisht and Ashish Vidyarthi. The film examines the mental and psychological trauma that honest police officers go through in their fight against a group of ruthless terrorists.

Indian cities are being terrorized by a group determined to force the government to concede to their demands, resorting to any means necessary to achieve their goals. Honest, experienced, and diligent officers Abhay Singh (Om Puri) and Abbas Lodhi (Naseeruddin Shah) are part of an anti-terrorism task force established by the government to eliminate this menace.

Abbas Lodhi decides to infiltrate the terrorist group by deploying two undercover cops, Sahadev and Shakti, who assume the new identities of Anand (Manoj Bajpayee) and Shiv, respectively, to gather intelligence. Only Abbas, Abhay, and their senior officer in New Delhi are aware of this operation.

A few years later, Anand, one of the undercover cops, is exposed by the terrorists. To protect the mission, he dies by consuming cyanide before divulging any information. In contrast, Shiv successfully gains the trust and respect of everyone in the gang, including the mastermind, Commander Bhadra (Ashish Vidyarthi).

Bhadra is eventually captured and tortured by the police, but he refuses to reveal any information to Abbas or Abhay. While Bhadra is in jail, the gang selects a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) expert to assassinate a minister, which he accomplishes. The assailant is apprehended and interrogated by Abhay, but Inspector Tiwari poisons the prisoner.

Soon after, a respected officer, IGP Pathak (Amrish Puri), a friend of Abhay and Lodhi, commits suicide when the CBI attempts to arrest him on charges of collusion with the terrorists. Abhay and Lodhi realize that there are multiple infiltrators allied with the terrorists within the police force. Bhadra then offers Abhay the chance to join and assist the terrorists, threatening his family’s safety if he refuses. Initially, Abhay does not comply. In retaliation, the terrorists kill his family dog, shoot his son in the leg, and send threatening messages.

Under immense pressure, Abhay finally agrees to Bhadra’s demands. Bhadra instructs Abhay to stage a fake kidnapping and allow him to escape, which Abhay reluctantly does. Abbas Lodhi is shocked by Bhadra’s escape and is puzzled by Abhay’s unusual behavior.

Outside, Bhadra sends two operatives, Surinder and Mala, to stay at Abhay’s house, instructing them to monitor and threaten Abhay’s family. Only Abhay knows their true identities.

Bhadra later meets with Abhay, threatening to kill his wife and child by signaling Surinder and Mala. Under duress, Abhay reveals that it was Lodhi who arranged for the two undercover cops to infiltrate the gang and that only he knows the true identity of Dhanush. He also learns that Inspector Tiwari, who was supporting Bhadra, has been eliminated.

The gang attacks Lodhi. He nearly finishes them off but sees that one of the assailants is Shiv, leading him to let them go. Lodhi is subsequently beaten but refuses to disclose the identity of the inside man. He is later accidentally killed by Bhadra’s pistol.

Abhay confides in his wife, Sumitra (Mita Vashisht), who reminds him of his oath as a police officer to protect the nation and encourages him to stay true to his duty. She assures him she will take care of everything in his absence.

Consoled, Abhay is summoned to a late-night meeting by Bhadra. Before leaving for Lodhi’s house, Surinder attempts to attack and rape Lodhi’s daughter, who is being cared for by Abhay and his wife. Mala orders Surinder at gunpoint to leave the girl, but Surinder shoots Mala. To save her daughter, Sumitra seduces Surinder, and once in the bedroom, she pushes him off and kills him with his own gun.

Abhay Singh is informed of the incident and returns home to console his family before bidding them goodbye. He meets Bhadra, who attempts to force him to reveal the identity of the inside man. Abhay fights back but is ultimately overpowered. In a desperate bid to protect the mission, Abhay convinces Shiv to shoot him, making it appear as though Shiv acted in self-defense, thereby securing Shiv’s position as the new leader of the gang. Shiv reluctantly complies, and Abhay sacrifices his life, ensuring the mission to dismantle the terrorist network continues.

The film’s strengths lie in its intense screenplay, powerful dialogues, and exceptional performances and Cinematography. The cast of the film Govind Nihalani handling the major technical part of the film such grace and everything is perfect.

Ashish Vidyarthi won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. His performance was cited as “bringing credibility to his role with strength and total conviction”. In 1996, Mita Vasisht won the Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1995, Nihalani won the Best Director Award at the Damascus International Film Festival  for the film.

Photos courtesy Google. Excerpts taken from Google.