Salaam Bombay!

Krishna is a bullied boy who flees his home after setting fire to his elder brother's motorbike. Arriving in Bombay, he is robbed and forced to navigate the city’s harsh streets. He adopts the nickname Chaipau to blend into the street world, working at a tea stall and taking on odd jobs to save money in the hope of returning home. His crush on Sola Saal and a slow descent into a dangerous underworld culminate in a fatal confrontation where he kills Baba, ending in a dejected, solitary gaze at the Ganesh parade.

Rekha is Baba's wife and a prostitute who has a young daughter, Manju. She resents raising her child in the brothel and hopes for a safer life away from Baba’s control. Her relationship with Krishna shows a glimmer of alliance amid exploitation, but she remains caught in a cycle of violence and coercion. Her attempts to break free are met with brutality, until the climactic moment when Baba is killed and she and Krishna briefly confront a possible escape.

Baba is a ruthless drug dealer who lords over a household of addicts and operates with coercive authority over Rekha and Sola Saal. He promises a chance to start anew, but his violence and control make him the scripture of exploitation in the district. His arc ends violently when Krishna kills him in a moment of rage, disrupting the drug trade but leaving lasting consequences for those around him.

Chillum is a drug pusher and addict who acts as a mentor figure to Krishna, guiding him into the street economy. His influence helps Krishna survive the initial years in the city, but his own addiction and subsequent dismissal by Baba highlight the precarious nature of this world. His arc ends with a fatal overdose, marking the harsh toll of the underworld.

Sola Saal is a young girl sold to the brothel, initially appearing as a symbol of innocence in the harsh environment. Krishna’s affection for her highlights his longing for connection, but she is drawn deeper into the system, denied starting the fire she is accused of, and later sent to service clients. Her arc reflects the exploitation and commodification of young women in the district.

Manju is Rekha and Baba's young daughter, living within the dangerous milieu of the brothel. Her presence embodies the human cost of the trade and the fragile line between vulnerability and resilience. She represents the future that remains uncertain in a world of exploitation and crime.