7 Khoon Maaf 2011

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A tragic case begins when the lifeless body of an Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, a woman of Anglo-Indian descent, is discovered amidst the ruins of a house that has been burned to the ground. Susanna, a woman known to have had seven husbands, with all six of her previous spouses having died under questionable circumstances, becomes the center of a mysterious investigation. The case is assigned to a dedicated forensic pathologist, Arun, who is tasked with conducting a detailed DNA analysis to verify if the remains truly belong to Susanna.

The narrative then unfolds through a compelling flashback, narrated by a young Arun, who shares his story with his wife, played by [Konkona Sen Sharma], revealing a complex history intertwined with love, tragedy, and dark secrets. Arun, who addresses Susanna as “Saheb,” recounts her relentless pursuit of love and companionship, despite her tragic past. From childhood, Susanna was haunted by the loss of her parents, which caused her to seek paternal figures in her husbands, a quest fraught with danger and heartbreak.

Susanna’s early life was marked by loss; she lost her parents at a young age and grew up yearning for love and stability. Her admiration for her deceased father translated into her desire to find the same warmth in her partners. Arun, who secretly harbored feelings for her since childhood, reveals that since their youth, he has been a silent witness to her struggles and hopes. He explains that Susanna’s death might have been a suicide, as she left a note expressing happiness over her marriage, which adds to the tragic aura surrounding her.

The story details each of her six marriages, highlighting the flaws that led to their tragic ends. Her first husband, Edwin Rodriques, an army major, was a jealous and possessive man, representing envy in his character. Despite being a war hero who lost a leg fighting in Operation Blue Star, Edwin’s insecurity and inability to believe in Susanna’s fidelity caused tension. He mistreated her, especially after losing faith in their marriage, leading to a cruel act where Susanna’s loyal stable-boy, Goonga, was blinded when Edwin challenged him to a fight. Susanna’s love for him was marred by his violence, but her attempt to escape his control involved a daring panther-hunting expedition that ultimately ended with Edwin’s accidental death when he fell into the path of a jaguar.

Her second marriage was to Jimmy Stetson, originally named Jamshed Singh Rathod, a talented singer whose flaw was gluttony. Their union was initially filled with passion and promise, but Jimmy’s growing fame and addiction soon turned him into a self-destructive figure. He stole songs, cheated on Susanna, and relied heavily on drugs. Her heartbreak was compounded by her efforts to help him, which culminated in her deciding to end their relationship by overdosing him on heroin. After each husband’s demise, Susanna would ring the village church bell loudly and repeatedly, a haunting ritual symbolizing her search for closure.

Susanna’s third marriage was to Wasiullah Khan, also known as Musafir, a poet with a gentle exterior but a violent side rooted in wrath. Their relationship was marred by domestic violence, which Susanna endured while trying to hide her bruises. Her friends and servants urged her to leave him, but he remained a haunting presence until he was eventually buried in a snowy grave in Kashmir, symbolizing the culmination of her suffering.

Following this, she married a Russian spy, Nicolai Vronsky, whose flaw was pride. Discovering that Nicolai had another wife and family in Russia shattered Susanna’s trust, leading her to take drastic measures. She confronted him, and with the help of her pet snakes, she ended his life in a fit of rage. This murder marked a turning point for Susanna, as she became increasingly unbound by her moral constraints and more willing to eliminate anyone she deemed a threat or unworthy.

Her subsequent marriages reflected her pursuit of passion and her complex moral code. She married Keemat Lal, a police inspector whose flaw was lust. He had enabled Susanna to evade prosecution for two murders in exchange for his marriage, but his dependence on Viagra led to his downfall when Susanna mixed an overdose of the drug into his drink one fateful night.

Her relationship with Dr. Modhusudhon Tarafdar was marked by a mix of rescue and betrayal. A Bengali doctor who initially saved Susanna from a suicide attempt, Dr. Tarafdar’s greed led him to attempt poisoning her for her inheritance, only to be foiled when her butler drank the poison by accident and died instead. Driven by shock and despair, Susanna shot him during a tense game of Russian roulette, further deepening her tragic trajectory.

Susanna’s depression and self-destructive tendencies culminated in a house fire, a suicide attempt in which her loyal maid, Maggie Aunty, with her own flaw of Loyalty, sacrificed her life to save Susanna. The loss of Maggie marked a poignant moment in her dark saga.

Later, Arun’s wife, Nandini, uncovers that Arun himself had fabricated some details about Susanna, and suspicion arises about his involvement or feelings. In the forensic lab, Arun discovers that the chained body belongs not to Susanna but to Maggie, revealing the tragic mistake.

In the storyline’s emotional climax, Susanna invites Arun to her wedding, revealing her decision to marry once more with full awareness of her past sins. She perceives her life as a relentless search for love and acceptance, which she describes as elusive until she imagines her seventh husband—Jesus Christ—who embodies unconditional love and kindness. In her final act of peace, she accepts her past, finds spiritual fulfillment, and chooses to become a nun, symbolizing her salvation in death. Arun and his wife leave with the knowledge that Susanna has finally found the love she yearned for, concluding her tumultuous journey.

Her life was a testament to the destructive power of unhealed wounds, a relentless pursuit of love that ultimately led to her tragic downfall, yet also her search for redemption and peace.