Name: Tanvi Godiwala

PRN: 19010125467
Division E- B.A. LL.B. – 1st Year
Semester 1
English Internal Assessment-I
Rustom: A tale of Rage, Revenge and Romance

Schadenfreude. The German rooted word that means the experience of pleasure, or self-
satisfaction that comes from or is derived by witnessing the misfortune of another, which
essentially originates in the thought what happened to them was deserved. Schadenfreude
forms the basis of every action of revenge. One movie that is a direct portrayal of the
presence of this emotion through a real-life story is Rustom; directed by Tinu Suresh Desai
starring Akshay Kumar and Ileana D’Cruz was a blockbuster and went on to collect over Rs.
316 Crore, or approximately 31.2 Million US Dollars.

Rustom is the story of the three gunshots that shook the nation. The movie, a romantic crime
thriller, has been inspired by the infamous K.M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra case of
1959. It was the last case in India to be heard as a jury trial, and just goes to show how the
vengeful actions of one man can change the course of history and transform the entire
criminal justice system of a nation affecting the lives of over 1 billion people.

The story of Rustom, begins in 1959 on a grandiose Naval Ship. Rustom Pavri, the naval
commander around whom the entire movie revolves, comes out and maps a course for the
ship to go back to Mumbai (then Bombay) a week earlier than planned. He comes back from
the deployment, extremely eager to see his wife Cynthia, and is disappointed when he doesn't
find her. He tries to look for her and ends up finding love letters from his friend Vikram
Makhija addressed to Cynthia. He goes over to Vikram's home only to find Cynthia and
Vikram together. Cynthia admits to her infidelity and breaks down in tears. Rustom is
heartbroken and shocked but walks away before Cynthia can explain.

It is at this point that he decides to take revenge on Vikram and formulates a plan for the
same. Rustom then gets himself a pistol from the Naval Ship's Armory and makes a Trunk
call to Defence Headquarters in New Delhi. Then, he proceeds to search for Vikram, first in
his office and then at his home. He finds him at home and enters Vikram's bedroom, after
which Vikram’s servant hears three gunshots and rushes to the room, to discover Vikram's
body in a pool of blood and Rustom walking away with the pistol in his hand. Rustom’s
revenge is fuelled by feelings of anger and hurt.
Revenge is defined as the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong
suffered at their hands; the desire to inflict retribution.