Ghulami

As a teenager, Ranjit challenges the entrenched caste prejudices that govern village life. He is repeatedly bullied by the two sons of the local zamindar landlord, highlighting the vast power imbalance between peasants and landowners. His defiant streak sets the tone for the resistance that threads through the story.

Two girls from the school—the schoolmaster's daughter and the landlord's daughter—watch his struggles and feel sympathy for him. Their quiet support underscores the social fault lines of the village and foreshadows shifting loyalties. The landlord's daughter, despite belonging to the powerful family, is portrayed as someone who connects with Ranjit's defiance.

Feeling exploited and limited by caste norms, Ranjit leaves the village for the city to seek a freer life. The move marks his break with the existing social order and exposes him to new possibilities and dangers. This departure sets up the later return that drives the story's conflict.

Several years pass before a telegram summons Ranjit back to perform his father's last rites. He returns to a village unchanged in its oppression, discovering that the family remains trapped under the landlord's shadow. The news also reveals the burdens of debt and the looming threat to his ancestral land.

Ranjit learns that his father borrowed money from the landlord to pay for medicines and healthcare. The land is mortgaged as collateral, and repayment or forfeiture of the land looms over the family. The scene frames the central economic injustice that sparks his righteous fury.

In a bold act of defiance, Ranjit storms into the landlord's living room and accuses the landlord and his ancestors of being blood-suckers who thrive on peasants' labor. His speech crystallizes his revolutionary resolve and directly challenges the landlord's authority. The landlord's daughter eavesdrops from behind a door and is deeply moved by his confrontation.

Ranjit returns home to perform his father's funeral, and in that vulnerable moment he forges a growing bond with Moran, a villager who becomes his ally. The funeral rites anchor him back in his community and deepen the personal stakes of the struggle. These moments set the stage for a broader rebellion.

A love triangle develops among Ranjit, Moran, and Sumitra, the landlord’s daughter who harbors unspoken feelings for Ranjit. The personal romance intertwines with political conflict, complicating loyalties and intensifying tensions within the feudal system. The triangle heightens the emotional stakes of the revolt.

When the landlord's sons attempt to rape Moran, Ranjit rescues her and eventually marries Moran, signaling his role as protector of the oppressed. The marriage makes him a direct target of the landlord and his allies. This act further polarizes the community and escalates the vendetta.

Sumitra agrees to marry the police officer chosen by her father, but her heart clearly still harbors love for Ranjit. Her husband later learns of this hidden love, fueling resentment and aligning him with the landlord's brothers in their bid to kill Ranjit.

With the landlord's men seizing harvest and tightening control, Ranjit becomes a fugitive. He faces pursuit by authorities, is beaten in jail, and the conflict continues to escalate toward open battle. The law's reach tightens as the rebellion gains momentum.

Javar, a villager who has returned from military service, and Gopi Dada, the village havaldar whose son was murdered by the landlord's henchmen, join Ranjit's cause. Their involvement broadens the resistance and amplifies the forthcoming clashes. The coalition strengthens the revolt with new resolve.

The story crescendos in a brutal clash that wipes out most of the main characters on both sides. The rebellion is crushed, and the harsh social order remains intact. The ending delivers a stark critique of cyclical violence and entrenched oppression.

The rebels' sacrifices highlight the cost of revolt and the persistence of oppression within the feudal-caste structure. The film closes on a somber note about injustice continuing despite the losses. It emphasizes the grim reality that social change is elusive in this society.