At the end of the last comics, Nagraj ki Kabr, we had questions. The questions were – whether Nagraj can use some of his snake like power to save himself and Romo from the grave of hundred of tons of earth. Nagraj ka Badla (Revenge of Nagraj), the third Nagraj comics, starts from there.

Shekhu’s camp gets completely destroyed by the self destruct bombs that went off when Nagraj and Romo arrived. Nothing survives there. No buildings, no people, no animals. Shekhu’s goons inform Bulldog that there is no way anyone can survive in the devastation of the camp. However, Bulldog has seen the powers of Nagraj during the demonstration in the first comics. So, he doesn’t trust the reports and asks his goons to dig the area where they last saw Nagraj. Bulldog will be satisfied only after he has seen the dead body of Nagraj.

The digging starts. And soon we get the answer. Nagraj cannot save himself and Romo from the tons of earth that has buried them. First Romo’s body is pulled from the debris and then Nagraj’s. Romo is dead and for all practical purposes, Nagraj also is.

Meanwhile, Bulldog is in the hill kingdom of Kampali. He takes help from the Minister of the kingdom to setup his base in Kampali. The minister dreams of replacing the King and become the ruler himself. Bulldog orders his goons to bring Nagraj’s body to Kampali. He plans that his medical scientist Dr Simto can study Nagraj’s body and create another Nagraj that Bulldog will be able to use.

Dr Simto tries, but while Nagraj’s body is almost dead due to lack of oxygen and water, his brain is still active. Nagraj hypnotizes Dr Simto and asks him to throw his body in a flowing river. Simto complies and they throw the body in Dong river from a helicopter.

While I was reading this, somehow my mind made a connection to Dongrila of the movie Tahalka, and the great Amrish Puri as General Dong. Mountainous area, name of the river, strong villain. Anyway, different times.

The river gives both oxygen and water to Nagraj and his body is revived. After that Nagraj becomes the messiah to the poor people of Kampali and helps them against the goons of Bulldog and Minister. The minister then tries to “poison Nagraj” with the help of a Vishkanya, Suvangani. (Well, there is a connection to another movie here, but that’s for you to check out).

Imagine biting Nagraj. The king of snakes who has poison in his veins in place of blood. Suvangani bites, and Suvangani melts. Then Nagraj meets with the king of Kampali and together they bring down Bulldog and the minster.

Nagraj 3: Nagraj ka Badla is also in the old mode of telling stories. Nagraj is not yet the all powerful variant. If there is a strong fighter, Nagraj lets him show his power. Then he enjoys his duel. When Nagraj shows his special move snake-hand, no one can counter that. In this story, when he needs to bring down Bulldog, he dresses up as a performer to get entry in to the highly guarded palace. Even the villains of Nagraj are not yet diabolical. Their motivation and activities are smuggling, terrorism, beating up common people and kidnapping young girls.

The first crimefighting story of Nagraj is based in India. But Nagraj goes international in the very next one. And that’s Nagraj ki Hong Kong Yatra (Nagraj’s journey to Hong Kong).