Intrigue

The movie revolves around Jamal, a 10 year old Pakistani Muslim boy. While he was playing cricket near the Indo-Pak border with some of his friends, he crossed the Indian side of the border separated by a fence in search of the ball. He was then spotted by the Indian security forces and they chased him to the village. Jamal managed to hide himself in an Indian village where a school master, named Bhola, provided him shelter and food. However, Bhola's niece Rani was sceptical about allowing a muslim boy in their home. But when the security forces came searching for Jamal they both protected him. Eventually, Jamal managed to return to Pakistan.—kavish nawaz

Here a Pakistani boy of around 10 or 12 years while playing cricket Has by chance crossed the India Pakistan border and entered the no man area and has been saved by the old school master immediately after this the boy want with vola to his village Later at night vola only helped Jamaal to go to his village in Pakistan—Aninda mishra

Jamal, a 10-year-old Pakistani Muslim, mistakenly crosses the border between India and Pakistan and finds an unusual ally in a Hindu Brahmin, Bhola. Indian soldiers descend on Bhola's village searching for the so-called terrorist who crossed over. Bhola's neice, Rani, insists they can't let a Muslim into their Hindu home. With Bhola and Rani grappling with the consequences of harboring a Pakistani and their deep-set prejudice against Muslims, Jamal's only hope is the humanity shared by a people separated by artificial boundaries a long time ago.—Ashvin Kumar

The movie revolves around Jamal (Salim Julfuqar Ali), a 10-year-old Pakistani Muslim boy. While playing cricket near the Indo Pakistani border (which is mined), the cricket ball is tossed over to the Indian side of the border separated by a fence.

Jamal crosses the fence (by carefully avoiding all the mines laid out) to fetch the ball. He is however spotted by the Indian security forces, who open fire. Jamal runs for his life and in his fear, he crosses the border into the side, rather than going back to the Pakistani side. The security forces dispatch soldiers to find and apprehend the trespasser. The soldiers question locals in the area to find if they have seen anyone who doesn't belong to the area.

He hides in an Indian village where he is provided shelter by Bhola (Sushil Sharma), a devout Hindu Brahmin. Bhola had seen Jamal hiding under some rocks but lied to the security forces that he didn't see anyone. He knew Jamal is a boy and would be needlessly tortured if he reveals his location. Bhola misguides the soldiers, who pursue in a different location. Jamal follows Bhola to his village. Bhola knows that the soldiers will return and pleads Jamal to return to Pakistan. Jamal says that he crossed over by mistake while playing cricket. Bhola can understand since he used to play cricket there at the same spot, before Pakistan was made. Both Bhola and his niece, Rani (Megnaa Mehtta), are skeptical about allowing a Muslim boy in their home. Even if the security forces didn't find Jamal, they will eventually have to face the villagers. To protect Jamal, they tonsure his head to make him look like a Brahmin.

However, when the security forces come looking for Jamal in the village, he is protected by Bhola and Rani. The forces conduct a door-to-door search. Bhola introduces Jamal as Jawaharlal, his nephew, and Rani's brother. They say Jawaharlal is a mute. Once the forces leave, Jamal enjoys a meal with Bhola and Rani. But he finds out the deep-rooted differences, when Bhola refuses to eat any food that was touched by Jamal, a Muslim. Bhola and Rani break the utensils in which Jamal had food. Jamal is also fascinated by a troupe of travelling folk singers.

At night, Bhola prepares to smuggle Jamal back across the border into Pakistan. Bhola tells Jamal to only step on his footprints, to avoid the mines. Travelling carefully Bhola, Rani and Jamal cross over into Pakistan to Jamal's village. Bhola is reunited with the tree under which he used to play cricket in his youth. Before letting Jamal go, they cut the final ponytail on his head (which they had left to make him look like a Brahmin). Jamal hugs Rani before leaving. Jamal gifts his ball to Bhola.

Jamal does manage to return to Pakistan in the end. Jamal's mother is relieved to see him back but slaps him when she sees that he has shaved his head. Jamal can only laugh. Bhola and Rani leave, seeing that Jamal is in safe hands.