What Is Tarkieb About?
The premise of Tarkieb in 294 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a quiet riverside community where the everyday rhythms of laundry work and hospital corridors intersect, an unsettling mystery begins to surface. The discovery of a disturbing clue along the creek’s edge hints at a deeper darkness hidden beneath the town’s ordinary façade, casting a lingering chill over the locals and inviting questions that refuse to stay silent.
Inspector Pyare Mohan steps into the picture as the diligent CID officer charged with untangling the perplexing case. Known for his methodical mindset and quiet determination, he finds his investigation shadowed by ominous warnings that suggest powerful forces are watching his every move. This tension between duty and danger infuses the narrative with a gritty, suspense‑filled atmosphere, where each lead feels both a promise and a threat.
When the situation strains the limits of local resources, CBI Officer Jasraj Patel arrives, accompanied by his efficient assistant Gangaram. Their entrance brings a meticulous, almost forensic approach to the inquiry, contrasting sharply with the more intuitive tactics of the CID squad. The interplay between Patel’s seasoned, restrained poise and the earnest urgency of the local detectives creates a compelling dynamic, highlighting both the rigors of high‑level investigation and the personal stakes for those involved.
At the heart of the story lies the enigma of a young woman whose life intersected with various figures tied to the nearby Army Hospital. Her background—marked by familial responsibility and modest means—adds layers of social nuance to the case, while the web of acquaintances she left behind hints at motives that are anything but straightforward. The film sustains a tense, brooding tone as these investigators navigate a maze of clues, pressures, and unseen dangers, all while striving to bring clarity to a mystery that threatens to eclipse the very community it emerged from.
What Happens in Tarkieb?
The complete story of Tarkieb, from the first scene to the last, in 726 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
A routine day by the creek turns into a chilling mystery when a washer girl discovers a severed hand and soon the pieces mount into a full-discovery of a corpse. The scene shifts from a simple cleaning task to a grim puzzle as the washer women nearby gather, call in the authorities, and watch as the investigation begins to piece together what happened to a young woman whose body parts are found scattered. The early detectives identify that the body is that of a young woman, but the head remains missing, complicating efforts to confirm her identity and trace her last movements. A standard check with missing persons yields no matches, leaving the case dangling in uncertainty and driving the investigation into a deeper, more methodical phase.
Insufficient evidence and a series of troubling developments push the case toward a new direction. Inspector Pyare Mohan, who initially handles the inquiry, receives a threatening phone call that advises him to close the file. The ominous message introduces a sense of peril and suggests that someone is watching the investigation closely, eager to see the case pushed aside rather than solved. The threat casts a long shadow over the official effort and foreshadows the peril the investigators will encounter as they pursue the truth.
Eventually, additional evidence emerges that pushes the case beyond the jurisdiction of the local police and into the hands of a higher investigative authority. CBI Officer Jasraj Patel, along with his capable assistant Gangaram, is brought in to review the evidence, reexamine the scene, and reframe the questions that must be answered. As they delve into the mystery, they confirm that the victim is Roshni Choubey, a young woman who grew up in a poor family with four unmarried sisters. This detail about Roshni’s background helps illuminate the social pressures and precarious relationships she navigated, providing context for the men in her life who might have had motive or opportunity.
The investigation reveals that Roshni was associated with several men at the Army Hospital, including Dr. Kamal Dogra, Mohan Multani, Captain Ajit Verma, and Bishan Nanda. Each man has potential motive or connection, and the investigators carefully weigh these ties against the escalating threat to Roshni’s life. The question that drives the inquiry becomes central: who killed Roshni and why? The team follows multiple leads, taking the case through a maze of personal histories, professional permissions, and the shadows cast by love, desire, and power. As Patel interrogates people who knew Roshni, the danger intensifies, and the risk to him personally grows with every step he takes deeper into the case.
Patel’s persistence is marked by a willingness to place himself in harm’s way in the pursuit of the truth. He presses beyond the obvious suspects, aware that the killer may be hiding in plain sight among the circle of men who knew Roshni’s life, or perhaps in a more elusive place than anyone anticipated. The tension builds as the killer targets those who press too hard or who embarrass the failure to uncover the truth, turning threats into real peril as the investigation progresses. This mounting risk underscores the stakes of solving the case and the commitment required of those who work to bring the truth to light.
In a pivotal turn, the inquiry reaches a realization that the most straightforward culprits—the men who had relationships with Roshni—may not be the actual killer. The strands of evidence and motive are carefully reevaluated, forcing the investigators to reconsider assumptions and to look for a more concealed, but compelling, explanation behind the murder. The plot thickens as Patel inches closer to the unlikely truth, challenging the notion that passion alone explains the crime and pushing him to examine broader motives and hidden dynamics within Roshni’s world.
The climax delivers a shocking and decisive revelation: Bishan Nanda, driven by lust, is identified as Roshni’s killer. With this crucial insight, Jasraj Patel moves to arrest Bishan and bring him to justice, finally closing the loop on a case that began with a scattered body and a chilling threat against the investigators. The resolution emphasizes the triumph of careful investigation over hasty conclusions, and it underscores the persistent pursuit of justice in the face of danger and deception. The film culminates with the killer behind bars, and Patel’s relentless determination vindicated by the successful outcome of the investigation.
Tarkieb Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Hand found in the creek” to “Arrest and closure”. 12 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Hand found in the creek
A washer girl finds a severed hand in the creek where she was washing clothes. She is joined by other washers who gather at the site and summon the police, triggering the initial investigation.
When:morning Where:creek bank
- 2
Partial remains lead to a young woman
Investigators piece together the remains, confirming the body is that of a young woman. They recover various body parts but the head is missing, and searches for missing persons yield no leads.
When:early stage Where:crime scene and morgue
- 3
Threat to Inspector Pyare Mohan
The next day, Inspector Pyare Mohan receives a cryptic phone threat from an anonymous caller. He warns that continuing the case could be dangerous and recommends closing the file.
When:early stage Where:police station
- 4
Case handed to the CBI
New evidence surfaces, and the case is handed over to CBI Officer Jasraj Patel and his assistant Gangaram. They arrive to take over the investigation and re-examine the evidence.
When:soon after threat Where:CBI office
- 5
Roshni identified as the victim
Patel and Gangaram identify the corpse as Roshni Choubey, tying the investigation to a real victim. Her identity provides a focal point for motive and social context.
When:after identification Where:morgue
- 6
Roshni’s background and sisters
Roshni comes from a poor family with four unmarried sisters. The team notes her precarious social position, which colors how the suspects are perceived and how motives are weighed.
When:prior to death Where:family/home and Army Hospital context
- 7
Suspects at Army Hospital
Investigators learn Roshni had connections with several men at the Army Hospital, including Dr Kamal Dogra, Mohan Multani, Captain Ajit Verma, and Bishan Nanda. Each man is examined for potential motives to harm her, and alibis are checked.
When:pre-murder investigation Where:Army Hospital
- 8
Patel digs deeper despite danger
Patel delves deeper into the case, probing the relationships and possible motives beyond surface impressions. He pursues solid evidence while the danger to himself from the killer becomes evident.
When:during investigation Where:field and HQ
- 9
Threats escalate against Patel
The anonymous threats intensify as Patel presses the case, and attempts are made to impede him from pursuing the truth. He remains steadfast, putting his own safety at risk to uncover what happened to Roshni.
When:ongoing Where:various locations, including HQ and field
- 10
Questioning the suspects' guilt
Patel comes to doubt that the murder was committed by any of the men Roshni was involved with. He continues investigation, considering alternate explanations and searching for overlooked evidence.
When:midpoint Where:investigation HQ
- 11
Bishan Nanda revealed as killer
Eventually, the team uncovers that Bishan Nanda killed Roshni out of lust. The revelation reframes the motive and closes in on the true culprit.
When:reveal Where:unknown location
- 12
Arrest and closure
Jasraj Patel arrests Bishan Nanda and puts him behind bars, bringing the case to a close. The killer's motive is exposed, and justice is served for Roshni.
When:after reveal Where:police station
Who Are the Main Characters in Tarkieb?
5 characters, among them Jasraj Patel, Roshni Choubey and Bishan Nanda: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- JP
Jasraj Patel
A determined CBI officer who takes over the case after the initial police probe. He navigates threats and danger while pursuing the real killer, showing steadiness and resolve in a high-stakes investigation.
- 👮 Police
- 🕵️ Investigation
- ⚖️ Justice
- RC
Roshni Choubey
A young woman from a poor family whose connections with several men become a focal point for motive and suspicion. Her murder unleashes a tense, high-stakes investigation that reveals social vulnerabilities and the randomness of danger.
- 👩 Woman
- 🧭 Mystery
- BN
Bishan Nanda
An object of lust whose crime drives the mystery to its shocking twist. He becomes the pivotal suspect whose motive is exposed as the truth emerges and justice is pursued.
- 💀 Murder
- 🗝️ Motive
- DK
Dr. Kamal Dogra
A doctor at the Army Hospital who surfaces as a potential link in the web of relationships surrounding Roshni. His role adds a medical or professional angle to the case, fueling suspicion and complexity.
- 👨⚕️ Doctor
- 🕵️ Investigation
- CA
Captain Ajit Verma
An Army Hospital figure who becomes part of the circle of people connected to the victim. His involvement adds a layer of military affiliation and potential motive that the investigators weigh as the case unfolds.
- 🎖️ Army
- 🧭 Mystery
Where and When Is Tarkieb Set?
Tarkieb is set in Creekside (washerwomen), Police Station and Army Hospital. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Creekside (washerwomen), Police Station, Army Hospital
The film unfolds across a small town setting where a creek near the community serves as the washing ground for local workers. The investigation moves from the creekside to the police station and then into higher authority channels, including a CBI operation. The environments highlight the contrast between poverty, crime, and the pursuit of truth.
- 🏞️ Creek
- 🏢 Police Station
- 🏥 Army Hospital
What Are the Themes of Tarkieb?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Investigation, Lust and Justice.
-
01
Investigation
A relentless police investigation drives the narrative as evidence surfaces and suspects multiply. The shift from local police to a formal CBI inquiry raises the stakes and puts investigators in danger. The story emphasizes method, risk, and the persistence required to uncover the truth.
-
02
Lust
The motive behind the murder is tied to crude desire and exploitation, revealing how power and attraction can corrupt judgment. The investigation probes how personal relationships can become deadly, blurring lines between affection and possession. The plot uses the theme to expose vulnerability and harm.
-
03
Justice
The narrative builds toward accountability as Bishan Nanda's crime is laid bare and the killer is caught. Jasraj Patel embodies the pursuit of justice amid threats to his own life. The ending reinforces that truth and legal process prevail over fear and manipulation.
What Kind of Film Is Tarkieb?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Happy
A steady-paced, tense police procedural that builds suspense by methodically investigating a brutal murder while the detective faces anonymous threats, creating a persistent sense of danger.
- suspenseful
- tense
- methodical
- threatening
- mysterious
- dangerous
- murder investigation
- police procedural
- dismemberment
- anonymous threats
Content notes: dismemberment, murder, threats.
Quiz
How well do you remember Tarkieb? Test yourself on the story.
