Dilruba Tangewali Full Story Explained (1987)
Imagine a village where a cruel dacoit steals food from poor people. That is how 'Dilruba Tangewali' begins. This 1987 Hindi action film stars Hemant Birje as DSP Vijay Singh and Sripradha as the brave tangewali Dilruba. The movie is packed with revenge, family secrets, and a fearless woman who drives a horse cart. Directed by S.R. Pratap, it tells the story of twin sisters separated by tragedy. One grows up rich, the other becomes a tough village girl. When a new dacoit threatens everyone, Dilruba must fight back. The film is full of drama, songs, and a big clash between good and evil. It is a classic masala movie that keeps you hooked.
A Village Under Terror
A remote village lives in fear. Dacoit Shankar Singh robs people of their grains. He is cruel and no one can stop him. The village Thakur finally kills Shankar Singh. But Shankar's younger brother Kishan Singh swears revenge. He wants to kill Thakur and his whole family.
Full Plot
A remote village is terrorized by a cruel dacoit named Shankar Singh. He steals grains from poor farmers. The village Thakur finally kills Shankar Singh. But Shankar's younger brother Kishan Singh swears revenge. Kishan Singh plans to kill Thakur and his entire family. He attacks Thakur's home one night. But the loyal servant Sher Khan escapes with Thakur's twin baby daughters. Their names are Sita and Gita. While running through the forest, Sher Khan loses one of the twins. The dacoits chase him. He can only save one baby. He raises Sita in a safe place. The other baby, Gita, is found by a kind tangewala (horse cart driver). He raises her as his own daughter. She grows up to be Dilruba, a bold and fearless young woman. She drives a horse cart and is known as Dilruba Tangewali.
Years pass. Kishan Singh returns as Daku Bhavani Singh. He becomes a powerful dacoit leader. He wants revenge on Thakur's family. He starts terrorizing the village again. Meanwhile, an honest police officer named DSP Vijay Singh comes to the village. He wants to stop the dacoits. Vijay Singh meets Dilruba and likes her fearless nature. He also meets Sita, who is now a gentle and cultured woman. He does not know they are sisters. Vijay Singh falls in love with both women in different ways. But he is confused about his feelings.
Bhavani Singh kidnaps Sita. He wants to hurt Thakur and his family. Dilruba hears about the kidnapping. She decides to rescue Sita. She does not know Sita is her twin sister. She just knows an innocent girl is in danger. Dilruba rides her horse cart to Bhavani Singh's hideout. She fights the dacoits bravely. She finds Sita tied up inside the fort. When they see each other, they feel a strange connection. Sher Khan arrives and tells them the truth. They are twin sisters separated at birth. Dilruba and Sita hug and cry. They are overjoyed to find each other.
But Bhavani Singh captures all of them. He ties them up. He plans to kill them. Vijay Singh comes to rescue them. But Bhavani Singh's men overpower him too. Everyone is in danger. The villain laughs as he prepares to kill them. But Dilruba breaks free from her ropes. She fights Bhavani Singh's men. Vijay Singh also breaks free. Together, they fight the dacoits. Dilruba uses her horse cart as a weapon. She is fierce and unstoppable. Vijay Singh fights Bhavani Singh face to face. In a final sword fight, Vijay Singh defeats Bhavani Singh. Bhavani Singh falls to his death. The dacoits are all caught or killed.
The village is finally safe. Dilruba and Sita reunite with their family. The Thakur is overjoyed to have both daughters back. Sher Khan is honored for his loyalty. Vijay Singh marries Dilruba. The film ends with joy, celebration, and a happy family. The brave tangewali becomes a hero of the village.
Act Breakdown
The Dacoit's Revenge
The film opens with dacoit Shankar Singh terrorizing a village. Thakur kills Shankar. His brother Kishan Singh swears revenge. Kishan attacks Thakur's home. Loyal servant Sher Khan escapes with Thakur's twin daughters. He loses one baby in the forest. The twins are separated.
The Twins Grow Up
Years pass. One twin, Sita, grows up rich and gentle. The other twin, Gita, grows up as Dilruba Tangewali. She is bold and drives a horse cart. DSP Vijay Singh arrives in the village. He meets both women. Dacoit Bhavani Singh returns for revenge. He kidnaps Sita.
The Rescue Mission
Dilruba decides to rescue Sita. She goes to Bhavani Singh's hideout. She fights the dacoits and finds Sita. Sher Khan reveals they are twin sisters. But Bhavani Singh captures them all. Vijay Singh comes to rescue them but is also captured. Everyone is in danger.
The Final Battle
Dilruba breaks free and fights the dacoits. Vijay Singh also breaks free. They fight together against Bhavani Singh. Vijay Singh defeats Bhavani Singh in a sword fight. Bhavani Singh dies. The village is safe. Dilruba and Sita reunite with their family. Vijay Singh marries Dilruba.
Characters
Dilruba Tangewali
Played by Sripradha
Dilruba is the bold and fearless female lead. She drives a horse cart for a living. She is known as Dilruba Tangewali. She was separated from her twin sister Sita at birth. She grows up as a tough village girl. She is brave, honest, and speaks her mind. In the end, she rescues her sister and marries DSP Vijay Singh.
DSP Vijay Singh
Played by Hemant Birje
Vijay Singh is an honest police officer. He comes to the village to stop the dacoits. He is brave and dedicated to justice. He falls in love with Dilruba. He also feels a connection with Sita. He fights Bhavani Singh in the final battle. He defeats the villain and marries Dilruba.
Daku Bhavani Singh
Played by Deva
Bhavani Singh is the main villain of the film. He is the younger brother of the dead dacoit Shankar Singh. He swears revenge on Thakur and his family. He becomes a powerful dacoit leader. He kidnaps Sita to hurt Thakur. He is cruel and ruthless. He is defeated and killed by Vijay Singh in the final fight.
Sher Khan
Played by Pran Sikand
Sher Khan is the loyal servant of Thakur. He saves Thakur's twin daughters from the dacoits. He escapes with them but loses one baby in the forest. He raises Sita safely. He is a brave and faithful man. He reveals the truth about the twin sisters. He is honored at the end.
Sita
Played by Krishna
Sita is one of the twin daughters of Thakur. She is raised by Sher Khan in a safe place. She grows up as a gentle and cultured woman. She is kind and soft-spoken. She is kidnapped by Bhavani Singh. She is rescued by her sister Dilruba. She reunites with her family at the end.
Hawaldar Hoshiyar Singh
Played by Rajendranath Malhotra
Hoshiyar Singh is a comic police officer. He works under DSP Vijay Singh. He is funny and clumsy. He provides comic relief in the film. He helps Vijay Singh in small ways. He is loyal but not very brave.
Scene Highlights
The Twin Sisters Reunion
Dilruba reaches Bhavani Singh's hideout. She finds Sita tied up. When they see each other, they feel a strange bond. Sher Khan arrives and tells them the truth. They are twin sisters separated at birth. Dilruba and Sita hug and cry. It is a very emotional and touching moment.
Dilruba's Horse Cart Chase
Dilruba drives her horse cart at full speed. She is chasing the dacoits who kidnapped Sita. She jumps over obstacles and fights men from the cart. The scene is full of action and energy. It shows Dilruba's bravery and skill. The audience cheers for her.
The Final Sword Fight
Vijay Singh fights Bhavani Singh with swords. They fight on a cliff top. The fight is intense and dramatic. Bhavani Singh is strong but Vijay Singh is smarter. Vijay Singh finally defeats him. Bhavani Singh falls to his death. The villain is gone forever.
Sher Khan Reveals the Truth
Sher Khan is tied up in the hideout. He sees Dilruba and Sita together. He tells them the whole story. He explains how he saved them from the dacoits. He reveals they are twin sisters. The sisters cry and hug him. It is a powerful scene of truth and love.
The Happy Ending Celebration
The village celebrates the defeat of the dacoits. Dilruba and Sita reunite with their father Thakur. Sher Khan is honored for his loyalty. Vijay Singh and Dilruba get married. Everyone dances and sings. The film ends with joy and hope. The audience leaves with a smile.
Cast & Context
This film brings together veteran actor Pran Sikand and rising star Hemant Birje. Pran was a legendary character actor in Hindi cinema. He plays the loyal servant Sher Khan. Hemant Birje was known for action roles. He plays the honest police officer DSP Vijay Singh. Sripradha plays the title role of Dilruba. She was a popular actress in the 1980s. The pairing of Hemant and Sripradha was fresh for audiences. Deva plays the villain Bhavani Singh. He was known for negative roles. The cast mix of old and new talent made the film appealing.
Themes
Family and Reunion
The film is about twin sisters separated at birth. Dilruba and Sita grow up in different worlds. One is rich and gentle, the other is poor and bold. Their reunion is the emotional heart of the story. The film shows that family bonds can never be broken.
Revenge and Justice
Bhavani Singh wants revenge for his brother's death. He terrorizes the village for years. But DSP Vijay Singh represents justice. He fights to protect innocent people. The film shows that revenge only brings more pain. Justice wins in the end.
Bravery and Empowerment
Dilruba is a strong female character. She drives a horse cart and fights dacoits. She does not wait for a man to save her. She rescues her sister and fights the villain. The film celebrates a woman's courage and independence.
Good vs Evil
The film has a clear battle between good and evil. The dacoits are cruel and selfish. The heroes are honest and brave. The story shows that good always wins. The villain is punished, and the heroes get a happy ending.
Music & Soundtrack
ComposerAnwar-Usman
The music was composed by the duo Anwar-Usman. The soundtrack has 5 songs. The title song 'Dilruba Tangewali' became popular. It is a lively and catchy number. The songs add energy to the film's masala style.
Similar Films
Both films have dacoits terrorizing a village and a brave woman who rides a horse. Dilruba Tangewali even names its horse Basanti as a tribute to Sholay.
Both films feature twin brothers or sisters separated at birth and a revenge story against dacoits.
Both are masala action films with family secrets, twin characters, and a big battle between good and evil.
Both films have a strong, fearless hero fighting against cruel villains in a village setting.
Ending Explained
In the final scenes, Dilruba breaks free from her ropes. She fights Bhavani Singh's men with a sword. Vijay Singh also breaks free. Together, they fight the dacoits in a big battle. Dilruba uses her horse cart to knock down enemies. Vijay Singh fights Bhavani Singh in a sword duel. Vijay Singh defeats Bhavani Singh. Bhavani Singh falls from a cliff and dies. The other dacoits are arrested or killed. The village is finally safe. Dilruba and Sita reunite with their father Thakur. Sher Khan is praised for his loyalty. Vijay Singh marries Dilruba. The film ends with a happy celebration. Everyone dances and sings. The message is clear: family, love, and justice always win. The brave tangewali becomes a hero of the village.
Dilruba Tangewali is a fun masala film from the 1980s. If you enjoy old-school Bollywood action with drama and songs, you will like it. The film's biggest strength is Sripradha's performance as the fearless Dilruba. She is a strong female lead. The reunion of the twin sisters is emotional. The music is catchy. But the film has weak logic and outdated action. The story is predictable. It is best for fans of vintage Hindi cinema. Watch it for the nostalgia and the brave tangewali.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main villain is Daku Bhavani Singh. He is played by actor Deva. He is the younger brother of the dead dacoit Shankar Singh. He wants revenge on Thakur and his family. He terrorizes the village and kidnaps Sita.
The story is about twin sisters separated at birth. One sister grows up as a rich girl named Sita. The other grows up as a bold tangewali named Dilruba. A dacoit named Bhavani Singh terrorizes their village. Dilruba and police officer Vijay Singh fight the dacoits and reunite the family.
The role of Dilruba Tangewali was played by actress Sripradha. She is also known as Shreeprada. She plays a fearless horse cart driver. Her character is brave, honest, and full of spirit.
No, Dilruba Tangewali is not a remake. It is an original Hindi action film from 1987. It was directed by S.R. Pratap. The film has a typical masala story with dacoits, family drama, and a strong female lead.
The horse that Dilruba rides is named Basanti. This is a tribute to the 1975 film Sholay. In Sholay, Hema Malini's character was named Basanti. She also rode a horse. The film makers used the same name as a fun reference for fans.