Ayothi

Balram and his family in Ayodhya decide to undertake a pilgrimage to Rameswaram in November 2021. They prepare for the journey and board a train bound for Tamil Nadu. The plan is to visit religious sites as a family, starting their expedition from Ayodhya.

Their train reaches Madurai Junction on the eve of Diwali, marking the Tamil Nadu leg of their trip. They hire a cab to continue toward Rameswaram, beginning the road portion of their pilgrimage. The festive occasion adds emotional color to their travel.

Balram's clash with cab driver Kanagu escalates into a road crash on the way to Rameswaram. Janki is severely injured and rushed toward medical care while Balram and the children struggle to communicate due to the language barrier. The accident triggers a cascade of medical and logistical challenges.

Janki is admitted to the intensive care unit of Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Madurai, as her condition remains critical. Balram and his family find it difficult to navigate medical procedures without language support. A friend of Kanagu volunteers to drive an ambulance to GRH to speed up her treatment.

During transport to GRH, Janki passes away, leaving the family overwhelmed by grief far from home. Balram's faith leads him to oppose a post-mortem, fueling tensions about religious rites and legal procedures. The family faces the immediate reality of death in an unfamiliar setting.

Balram opposes performing a post-mortem on his wife, citing religious beliefs. He insists the family be dropped at Madurai Airport so Janki's body can be airlifted back to Ayodhya. The request sets into motion further official steps and protective measures for the remains.

At the airport, Kanagu's friend is stopped by airport authorities and the police, who take the group to a police station in Perungudi for an inquiry into Janki's death. The family and friends are eventually cleared as innocent and are moved to the mortuary for the post-mortem. The procedural detour adds to their stress and delays the flight.

Kanagu's friend leaves the family but returns after being moved by the children’s plight. He gathers money for Shivani's flight ticket and arranges embalming for Janki, despite Balram's protests. This act marks a turning point in Balram's attitude toward outsiders.

Shivani rebukes her father for his harsh treatment of her mother and for trying to bend legal procedures to hasten departure. Balram confronts his own hypocrisy and begins to mourn Janki’s death for the first time. The family starts to heal as he accepts his loss.

All flight tickets to Lucknow are booked, forcing Shivani to travel to Ayodhya alone with her mother’s remains. Kanagu's friend persuades two passengers to relinquish their seats, allowing Sonu and Balram to board the flight. Shivani travels separately with the remains while her father and brother depart first.

It is revealed that Kanagu's friend aiding the family is Abdul Malik, a Muslim. Balram overcomes his intolerance and thanks Abdul Malik for timely help, signaling a shift in their relationship across religious lines. The family boards the flight together toward Ayodhya.

A few months after Janki's death, Abdul Malik helps a stranger in Rameswaram perform the last rites of her mother. The gesture closes a circle of compassion and illustrates the cross-cultural friendship that emerged during the crisis. The act reinforces the film’s message of humanity beyond religious divides.