Maheshum Marutiyum

In 1983, Mahesh's father buys a bright red Maruti 800, a symbol of the new 'Indian' car for the common people. The car is presented to him in a ceremony by Indira Gandhi, elevating his status in the village. The event seeds his emergence as a local car celebrity.

Following the launch, Mahesh's father becomes a celebrated car enthusiast in the village, often featured in local newspapers. His fame centers on the Maruti 800 and the modern image it represents.

Mahesh is a schoolboy whose heart belongs to his sweetheart Gauri. Her family cannot afford to send her to Delhi for education, so Mahesh concentrates his energy on the Maruti 800 and the future he hopes it will bring.

In 1988, Mahesh's father dies in a train accident, a turning point for the family. After his death, Mahesh inherits the responsibility of safeguarding the car that defined his father's identity.

Two decades after the tragedy, Mahesh continues to care for his late father's Maruti 800 as a living relic of pride. The car remains central to his life, a tangible link to his father's memory.

The beloved Maruti 800 is stolen, leaving Mahesh devastated. The thief, moved by the car's history, abandons it after spotting a newspaper clipping about the Indira Gandhi ceremony.

Years later, with mounting debts, Mahesh runs an automobile service garage and rents out the Maruti 800 to keep afloat. The arrangement brings legal trouble when the car is rented for a wedding, drawing the attention of authorities.

Gauri reappears in Mahesh's life and lends support during the court case related to the car's rental trouble. Their childhood romance rekindles as they work through the legal fight together.

Although romance returns, the Maruti 800's historic importance complicates their future. Mahesh has not achieved the level of success expected by Gauri's wealthier family, making marriage seem unlikely.

The Maruti 800 is now a vintage car with significant historical value, and its sale could fund their future. Despite this, the emotional attachment to the vehicle complicates the idea of letting it go.

Mahesh pivots toward business by starting a Maruti Authorized showroom in his village. He places his father's Maruti 800 in the showroom as the centerpiece of the venture.

With the showroom open, Mahesh honors his father's legacy and builds a hopeful future for himself and Gauri. The Maruti 800 remains the heart of the enterprise, tying past and future together.