Tubelight

Laxman, a mentally challenged boy, faces bullying from peers while his younger brother Bharat defends him. A montage depicts their early years, Gandhi's visit to their school, India's 1947 independence, Gandhi's assassination, and their parents' deaths. These events underscore the brothers' evolving closeness and resilience.

As tensions rise, the Indian Army begins recruiting. From their village, Bharat is selected and joins the Kumaon Regiment. The war is declared and the brothers brace for the uncertainty ahead.

Laxman encounters a magician, Gogo Pasha, who shows him a bottle trick and tells him that faith fuels impossible feats. The elder Banne explains that faith can move a mountain. Laxman clings to this idea as he waits for news from the front.

While evacuating after an injury, Bharat is ambushed and captured by hostile forces. He is moved to a prisoner-of-war camp where he and other prisoners hatch a plan to escape. His absence weighs on Laxman, who searches post after post for news about his brother.

Laxman observes Le Leing and Gu Won and initially suspects they are Chinese. After being urged by Banne to follow Gandhi's wisdom, he befriends them and learns they are Assamese, not Chinese. This friendship broadens his world beyond fear and suspicion.

Bharat's escape attempt goes awry as his comrades are killed and he is shot, leaving him immobile. In a desperate bid for freedom, he sacrifices his own resources by exchanging shoes with a comrade. The failed escape deepens Laxman's longing as news from the front grows dim.

Laxman discovers that Bharat is missing, and the news gnaws at him. Le Leing consoles him and encourages faith, while Narayan tries to push him away from his new friends. Laxman's resolve to trust his beliefs is tested as fear for Bharat grows.

Narayan challenges Laxman's faith, insisting he must prove it by moving a mountain. Laxman focuses, and the ground trembles as an earthquake is felt, suggesting that faith can alter reality. The moment marks a turning point in the brothers' shared hope.

With a ceasefire in place, the army recovers bodies from the front. They find a dead soldier bearing Bharat's shoe-tag and declare him dead, plunging Laxman into despair. The illusion of safety cracks as the war's toll becomes personal.

As the friends celebrate the end of the war, Le Leing's lost father returns, bringing a moment of bittersweet joy. The group prepares to bid farewell and return to Calcutta. The reunion carries a mix of relief and melancholy for the families.

Laxman learns of a mistake in corpse identification caused by swapped shoes, and discovers Bharat is still alive. He learns that Bharat has lost his memory, adding new weight to their reunion mission. The truth reopens old wounds and hope in equal measure.

At the medical camp, Laxman is finally reunited with Bharat, who recognizes him. Bharat's memory is possibly restored, and the brothers share a moment of cautious relief. The family ties endure despite the scars of war.