Mirch Masala

An arrogant Subedar and his henchmen ride into the village and begin intimidating the women who fetch water. Sonbai, alone among the group, stands her ground and politely asks them not to desecrate the village’s potable water source.

The Mukhi goes to the Subedar's camp to pay respects and maintain relations. The Subedar's gramophone becomes an object of fascination for the villagers, symbolizing power and modernity that commands attention.

The Mukhi's wife resents his frequent absence from home. The schoolmaster tries to persuade her to enroll her daughter in school, but the effort is ridiculed by other villagers, underscoring social resistance to change.

The Mukhi pulls his daughter out of school and beats his wife for disobeying him. The incident exposes the harsh realities of patriarchal control within the community.

Subedar's men routinely loot the village for food, livestock, and supplies, leaving the inhabitants to cope with scarcity and fear. The subedar's presence makes ordinary life precarious for the villagers.

When Mukhi brings a woman to the Subedar, he is disappointed that she is not Sonbai, but beds her nonetheless. The act reveals his entitlement and appetite for control over others.

The Subedar persists in wooing Sonbai, but she slaps him and runs away. His anger erupts as he orders his soldiers to bring her back by force.

Sonbai hides inside the masala karkhana (spice factory) to escape capture. Abu Mian, the wizened gatekeeper, shuts the doors and refuses to let the soldiers in, prioritizing the safety of factory workers.

The Subedar tries to pressure through officials to open the factory gates, but Abu Mian remains firm in his duty to protect the workers and refuses to compromise.

The Mukhi convenes a village panchayat and the villagers decide Sonbai should yield to the Subedar. The schoolmaster warns that giving in would set a dangerous precedent for others.

The Mukhi relays the pressure to the Subedar, who laughs and orders the schoolmaster tied up. The act shows the Subedar's willingness to intimidate even local leaders.

Inside the factory, the women who once supported Sonbai now fear the Subedar's wrath and distance themselves. Abu Mian chides the villagers, arguing that true courage is facing oppression rather than cowering at home.

The Subedar orders his soldiers to charge the factory and smash down the door. Abu Mian manages to shoot one soldier but is killed immediately afterward, leaving Sonbai and the others exposed.

Inside the factory, the women mount a sudden defense, flinging bags of fresh ground red chili powder at the invaders. The Subedar collapses on his knees, screaming in pain as the chilli burns his face and eyes, marking the film's climactic punishment of oppression.