Tikdam

Fireflies come out in the night, just to light up the darkness. They live as long as the glow lasts. Even if it is a lifetime, being lived in a day. FIREFLIES is the story of two estranged brothers, Shiv and Rana. Living disparate lives, sometimes illuminated by unexpected intimacies and newfound hope, the brothers still remain shackled to the darkness of their past. Haunting memories of a tragic incident must be resolved before they can be brothers again.

Today, there is hardly anyone who hasn't visited the swanky shopping malls, nightclubs, lounge bars, clubs and other such lifestyle destinations that sprung up across the centre of Mumbai. However, very few know that buried deep below these glittering edifices to consumerism lies the dark, dirty and painful reality of many thousands of mill workers who once worked the cotton mills in this very same area. Rising and toiling to the wail of the mill sirens each and every day, seven days a week, these workers embodied the true unbridled zeal and unflagging spirit of the city and played a pivotal role in the evolution of Mumbai as the modern day business capital of India. And then it suddenly was as if they never existed. Following the mill workers strike in the mid-80s, these mills began closing down rapidly and the mill-workers mysteriously disappeared...

Maradona Rebello grows up playing a girl in popular Hindi films on the behest of his ambitious and dominant mother, Lillete Dubey. This results in a confused gender identity for the young boy who tries to build his film career, once again, when he grows up. This time, as a hero? Does he succeed?

The orphaned Poornima is consigned to the care of her grandfather by her uncaring aunt. Grandfather lives in isolation up a mountain with only goats and the boy goatherd, Jaggu, for company. Poornima enjoys an idyllic life until her aunt returns. Auntie has found a buyer for her niece. She is to become the companion of the wheelchair bound, Rupa. Forced to leave her mountain retreat, Poornima becomes firm friends with Rupa despite the presence of the scowling nanny. She receives a good education too. Even so, Poornima pines for the mountains. Jaggu pines for Poornima and, when on the doctor's advice, Poornima is returned to the hills, it's Rupa's turn to pine for her. Brought up the mountain for a visit, Rupa enjoys the health-giving properties of fresh air and goats' milk. When her wheelchair is tossed over a cliff by Jaggu (who resents the presence of the interloper)a miracle occurs. The story is adapted from the children's classic "Heidi".

Sunil leads a poor lifestyle along with his widowed mother, and two school-going siblings, Anu and Tikku. He gets married to Lakshmi, who soon gets pregnant. Anu graduates from school and each of the family make individual sacrifices so that she can attend college. During Diwali, Lakshmi falls down the stairs, is hospitalized, has a miscarriage, and will never be able to conceive. Sunil decides to keep this a secret from the rest of the family, but subsequently confides in his mother. When Lakshmi finds out she wants him to re-marry, but he refuses. Then Tikku is sent to live with his maternal uncle for a few days. Shortly thereafter the family will be faced with three crises as Anu prepares to elope with a wealthy fellow collegian, a death, and a theft.