Plot

An ex-convict is bent on revenge against the people responsible for his wrongful imprisonment but is pit against his estranged son who is now a police officer.

David is an old prisoner, released after twenty-four years in a penitentiary for a crime he hasn't committed. The three men who framed him and sent him away, are now prominent citizens of his town. David walks out of the prison straight into a confessional booth at his church. He tells the priest that he is about to kill three prominent men, for which he seeks God's pardon in advance. He must find his old friend, bootlegger and the custodian of David's only son. David had believed in his friend to bring up his son as the worst criminal and seek revenge from the men who put him away. On meeting him, David finds that his son is a Cop instead. Devastated, David continues on his own. When he is about to kill the three men, his son has vowed to protect the citizens under any circumstances. David and his son are at war, personally and the smarter of the duo would win.—Anonymous

After completing imprisonment for twenty years in accused of causing the death of his wife, Mary; David D'Costa makes a confession at a Church to kill three influential people, Politician, Chaturvedi, Police Inspector, Roop Kumar Sahay and Dr. Varma - all of whom was responsible for his imprisonment. He pays a visit to his friend, Mahesh Sandaliya to find out about his ens-tangled son, James only to learn that James is now grown up, goes by the name Vijay who is also a Police Inspector and is standing in-front of his dad's revenge as he is responsible for protecting the lives of David's three enemies.—gavin (racktoo@hotmail.com)

David lives a poor lifestyle.But is ready to die for MLA Chaturvedi.He introduces his wife Mary to him and also name their son with his blessings.But Chaturvedi is fantasying Mary and rapes her in David's absence.Mary commits suicide leaving a note for David about Chaturvedi raping her.But Inspector Sahay and Dr Verma destroy the evidence.David is then framed for Mary's murder.He tells his friend Mahesh that he shall make his son a biggest criminal.24 years later when David is out for revenge he finds that his son Vijay is not a criminal but a police inspector.—alex.mjacko@gmail.com

David D'Costa (Amitabh Bachchan) lives a relatively poor life in Chennai with his wife Mary D'Costa (Jayaprada) who is pregnant. He literally worships the Member of Parliament Chaturvedi (Sadashiv Amrapurkar), and is even willing to die for him. He introduces Mary to Chaturvedi, and with his blessings they name the new-born son James. Then one day while he is busy obstructing rail traffic on Chaturvedi's instructions, he gets arrested and is bailed out by his friend Mahesh (Anupam Kher) When he returns home he finds that Mary has committed suicide. She left a note blaming Chaturvedi for raping her. An upset David goes to confront Chaturvedi, is intercepted by Police Inspector Roop Kumar Sahay (Dalip Tahil) and Dr. Verma (Bharat Kapoor), the evidence is destroyed, and he is sentenced to 24 years in prison for Mary's murder. He asks his friend Mahesh to look after James in his long absence.

Twenty four years later, David is released, he goes to visit Mahesh and is shocked to find that Mahesh has changed, he is no longer a seller of illicit liquor, he now lives a wealthy life-style, he wants David to forget the past, and live with his CID Inspector son Vijay (also Amitabh Bachchan). Instead of fulfilling his promise to David to turn Vijay into the toughest goon of the city, Mahesh never told Vijay about his true family, about the rape of his mother or the wrongful imprisonment of his father. Instead Mahesh told Vijay that he himself is his father. Mahesh begs David not to tell Vijay that Mahesh is not his real father. David is devastated with this news, but is determined to avenge his wrongful conviction and Mary's death, so he sets about to kill his tormentors one by one - the only obstruction he faces is none other than Vijay who, unaware of David being his father, is out to protect the 3 people.

Vijay hates criminals with a vengeance, so much so that he is not willing the spare the brat daughter Vinita (Sridevi) of city DIG, who is also his girlfriend. David goes to a local church and confesses his desire to kill the 3 villains. The priest reports this to the police DIG who in turn involves Vijay. Vijay uses the media to flush out the perpetrator, by printing a news story that the priest has identified the perpetrator & reported to the police. David, disguises himself as another priest & offers information to the police SP Sahay about the perpetrator. He uses Vijay to reach Sahay and then kill him. Before leaving Sahay's room Vijay had switched on a hidden tape recorder. After Sahay's death, Vijay uses the audio recording to figure out that David was the perpetrator and was out to kill Chaturvedi and Dr Verma.

Vijay puts Chaturvedi and Verma under heavy security. David kidnaps Vinita & tries to threaten the DIG to negotiate with him for Verma's life. The DIG refuses to negotiate so David creates a distraction using an explosion & kills Verma using a long range rifle. Vijay gives chase, but David escapes. In captivity, Vinita tells David that she loves Vijay and wants to marry him. David shows kindness to Vinita & releases her. Vinita warmly inquires about David's quest, who tells her about how his wife was raped by Chaturvedi and then he was incarcerated by the 3 villains he is out to kill. Upon release Vinita refuses to cooperate with David completely. David figures out that his father is good friends with David from his past life & had met David upon his recent release from prison. Vinita confronts Mahesh who tells her that Vijay is David's son.

Vijay disguises himself as David & meets Mahesh, who tells the entire truth about David's past & even says that Vijay is David's son. Vijay is devastated, but gets Mahesh arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal. Vijay wants to resign from the police as he wants to avenge his mother's death, which he cannot do as a police officer. The DIG restores Vijay's faith in the course of law & convinces him to arrest David. Vijay goes to pay his respects at his mother's grave & meets David. They together pray for Mary's soul. Vijay tries to stop David, but he escapes again.

David tries to kill Chaturvedi during his public rally, by planting a bomb under his parade jeep, from under a sewer manhole. But Vijay spots David in time & yanks the bomb from under the jeep and throws it away. He then enters the sewers with his men to corner David & prevents his escape. When David tries to climb out, he is shot by Vijay. Vijay carries David's body out of the sewer. Chaturvedi pretends to praise Vijay for his duty even after knowing that David was his father. He then proceeds to insult David & his dead wife. Vijay wants to kill Chaturvedi, but David gathers his last breath & shoots Chaturvedi in his head.