Zakhm

Ajay and Sonia clash over where their child should be born. Sonia insists on England for the child's future, while Ajay argues for India because of security concerns during the Mumbai riots. The scene sets up the couple’s disagreement and foreshadows the pressures that will shape their decisions.

News reaches Ajay that his mother has been burned by rioters as she left a temple. She is in a critical condition, and the family confronts the seriousness of domestic inter-communal violence. The incident underscores the danger surrounding the family and the stakes of identity and faith.

A flashback reveals the mother’s past and her love for Hindu film producer Raman Desai, including a relationship that was never formally documented due to religious constraints. She chose to live as Hindu in public, even in front of Ajay, to protect her children’s social standing. The memory shows the complexity of her identity and the roots of the family’s tensions.

Because the marriage was not documented, she navigates life as a Hindu while quietly keeping her Muslim origins. This dual identity shapes how she raises Ajay and his siblings, and it influences their sense of belonging. Her choices blur religious lines inside the family.

On the day Ajay’s younger brother is born, their father dies in an accident. In the aftermath, Ajay realizes that his mother is Muslim, a revelation that deepens the family’s sense of loss. The event marks a turning point as religious identities become central to their lives.

After her burns and subsequent death, the mother makes Ajay promise to bury her according to Muslim customs. She believes that only a proper Islamic burial will allow her to reunite with Raman in heaven. She also asks Ajay to keep her true identity from his younger brother.

Sonia learns about Ajay’s mother’s past and chooses not to walk away. She supports his decision to bury his mother per Islamic customs and stands by him in the face of communal tension. Her resolve reinforces the bond between the couple and the family’s attempt to honor the mother’s wishes.

Subodh bhai, a fundamentalist leader, uses the tragedy to inflame political sentiments. He urges Hindu youth to target Muslims, turning the burial plan into a potential flashpoint. His interference tests the family’s unity and Ajay’s commitment to his mother’s wishes.

Anand, Ajay’s younger brother and a youth leader, learns of Subodh bhai’s plans and joins his brother’s side. He supports burying their mother according to Islamic customs and resists the rising violence. The brothers unite against external pressure to honor her true identity.

The mother is buried according to Islamic rites, fulfilling her last request. The burial allows her to be reunited with Raman in heaven, as promised. The ceremony occurs amid ongoing communal tensions, but the act brings a sense of closure to the family.

In a poignant final gesture, Ajay releases his mother’s Mangalsutra into the sea. The act symbolizes the end of her long struggle and her union with her husband in the afterlife. The moment marks a solemn turning point for Ajay and the family’s healing.

With the burden carried and the conflict understood, Ajay and Sonia continue their life together, honoring the mother’s memory. The family acknowledges the complexity of faith and the importance of love over division. The film closes on a note of reconciliation and resilience.