Kitaab

Babla's mother Dina Pathak decides he should go to his sister Vidya Sinha in the city so he can attend a better school. She hopes the change will help him grow and learn. Babla is initially excited about leaving the village for urban life.

Babla arrives at his sister's home in the city and feels welcomed at first. He loves the city and instantly makes friends, enjoying the new freedoms. The home becomes a base for his early exploration and adaptation.

Babla befriends his classmate Pappu and the two roam the busy streets together. They watch street magic shows, peek at how sweets are made, and imagine performing similar tricks themselves. The pair revel in carefree city life away from rules.

As school starts, Babla's carefree attitude clashes with expectations. His sister and brother-in-law scold him for seeming disinterested in studies and for antics in class. The school also flags complaints, making him feel misunderstood by adults who can’t see his innocence.

Babla begins to grasp the harsh realities hidden behind city life. He realizes that many people struggle, and his own comfort hides deeper hardships. This insight shatters his earlier carefree view and pushes him toward longing for home.

Feeling overwhelmed, Babla resolves that life with his mother might be easier and more honest. He decides to leave the city and go back to his village. The choice marks a turning point in his understanding of where he truly belongs.

Babla runs away from Vidya's home and sneaks onto a train without a ticket. He hopes to return to his mother, but the journey is uncertain and risky. The act shows his desperation to escape the pressure and find a simpler life.

The ticket-master catches him and forces Babla to alight at the next station. The humiliation of being caught marks a harsh moment in his escape. He finds himself stranded with only his resolve to guide him.

On the platform at night, Babla feels cold and searches for a safe place to sleep. He endures the chill while wondering what his next move will be. The platform becomes an unfamiliar, precarious space far from home.

He finds an old woman sleeping under a blanket and lying down beside her, sharing the warmth. In the morning, he wakes up to the crowd gathered around the sleeping elder and learns she has died. The moment starkly reveals the vulnerability of the poor.

In the commotion, Babla spots a coin in the old lady's container and pockets it briefly before putting it back. He goes to drink water and is startled by the growing crowd around the scene. The episode cements his understanding that life is not simple for those with little.

Feeling shaken, Babla returns to his mother's village home and finds his mother, sister, and brother-in-law worried and overjoyed to see him. The family reunion underscores the closeness of home life. He realizes the distance he created could have been avoided.

The family expresses relief at his return, with the mother, sister, and brother-in-law embracing him warmly. They worry about the dangers he faced on the journey, but their joy at his safe return outweighs their concerns. Babla admits that he wants to take his studies seriously and make his family proud.

Back home, Babla makes a firm pledge to study sincerely and avoid causing trouble. The vow marks his commitment to maturing while staying connected to his family. The story solidifies a plan to balance innocence with responsibility.

Babla's journey ends with a realization that innocence must be balanced with responsibility. The film closes on a note of hope as he resolves to pursue his education while preserving his sense of wonder. The cycle of childhood and hardship continues, but with a plan to grow.