Pinjar tells the story of Puro, a young woman of Hindu background, finding herself living a lovely life - in a period circling the time of the Partition of 1947 - with her family. All is well for Puro, who finds herself betrothed to a wealthy, sweet young man, Ramchand, from a promising family akin to her own background. Her family lives in Amritsar but journeys to their ancestral village of Chattovani to search for prospective grooms. They finally engage Puro to Ramchand from Rattoval, a village near Chattovani. Although her life seems to be well-charted, Puros bliss is shattered one day as a leisurely trip in the fields beyond her home with Rajjo [her younger sister] turns traumatic as she is kidnapped by a mysterious Muslim man, who turns out to be Rashid. Rashids family has an ancestral family dispute with Puros family. Puros family had made Rashids family homeless by taking over their property over a loan default. Also, Puros grand-uncle had kidnapped Rashids grand-aunt, kept her in his house for 3 nights and then released her onto the streets after defiling her. Rashids joint family makes him swear on the holy Quran that he will kidnap Puro before her wedding to settle the score and restore their honour. Throughout the film it is clear that Rashid is very attracted to Puro and would do anything for her. It can also be perceived that he did not want to kidnap Puro, but was forced to do so for the honor of his family. One late evening while Rashid is asleep, Puro manages to steal the keys from under his pillow, unlocks the main door and runs back to her parents. However in an extremely emotional scene, her parents woefully turn away their daughter, explaining that if Puro were to stay, Rashids extended Muslim clan would arrive at the minority hindus house and slaughter everyone. Left with no support at home [Puros brother Trilok is unfortunately away from home at that time], Puro returns to Rashid who is well-aware of Puros escape & confident that shell not be let in by her parents and waiting for her nearby. Some months following Puros kidnapping, Puros family marries their son Trilok to Ramchands [Puros fiance] younger sister, Lajjo, and the entire family moves back to Amritsar. Lajjo wishes very much for Trilok to give her the attention she so animately bestows upon him. However, Trilok, having turned cold ever since his sisters capture, cannot find himself get attached to Lajjo. Meanwhile, Rajjo is married off to Lajjos [and Ramchands] cousin and lives in Rattoval. Parallel to the celebrations of the new marriage, is a celebration of Rashid: Puro is pregnant. While Rashid and his aunts rejoice, Puro is greatly depressed as she has conceived from rape, she ultimately miscarries the child. After the miscarriage, however, Puro learns somewhat of Rashids love for her and his repentance for his evil deed. One day Puro journeys to Rattowal [Ramchands village] with an aunt and goes searching for Ramchands fields. She weeps in despair when she comes across Ramchand, he realises that it might be Puro but doesnt stop her as she flees away, since he has no authority to stop her. Meanwhile, the British colonialists leave India and the subcontinent reels under the effects of Partition. Puros family are safe in Amritsar which falls in India. Ramchands father refuses to leave Rattoval which now lies in the newly created Pakistan. But Ramchands uncle, cousin and Rajjo leave for India and are hence safe. Ramchand, his parents and Lajjo [Trilok had recently visited from Amritsar and dropped her at her brothers house] are caught in the riots. Ramchand hurriedly leaves on the long journey to India along with his younger sister and mother, his father is already missing in the riots. They are part of a large group of hindu and sikh refugees on the way to India, guarded by an Pakistani army regiment. However, large groups of thugs keep attacking refugee camps and kidnapping girls. Lajjo is kidnapped during one such attack. Puro & Rasheed meanwhile live in Sakkadali village. She rescues a kidnapped & repeatedly gangraped Hindu refugee girl from the sugarcane fields and promises to hand her over to the Indian army. Puro comes to know that a large group of Hindu refugees from Rattoval is on way to India and that they have camped near Sakkadali for the night. There she meets Ramchand who woefully tells her of Lajjos situation. Puro requests Ramchand to help the rape victim find her family back in India, and also promises to locate Lajjo. Puro begs Rashid to help her find Lajjo and rescue her, he says it is very dangerous but she reminds him of how brazenly he kidnapped her in the past. Roaming in Rattoval village from home to home under the alias of a saleswoman, Puro finally finds Lajjo, and helps her escape with Rashids assistance. They conduct Lajjo to Lahore where Trilok and Ramchand come to receive her at the Wagah refugee victims/missing persons exchange camp. Lajjo is welcomed lovingly by Ramchand, Trilok is also there in the camp and has a tearful reunion with Puro and explains to her that she can start life anew as Ramchand is ready to accept her even now. However Puro surprises Trilok by refusing. She is caught between two worlds, she says that she is content that Lajjo is returned, and that her life is beyond repair, she is where she belongs and cannot bear further upheavals. And she says something which shows how she has grown in mental stature, since her kidnap. She says Whenever a girl is rescued and returns home, feel that another Puro has returned. And Ramchand responds equally valorously and with a tremendous empathy to Puro, by advising Trilok Dont make her homeless once again, as he sees that she has now accepted Rashid for good. The sense of melodrama is well depicted - as Rashid slowly tries to fade away from the scene making it easy for Puro to leave with her folk, but is heart broken, as he is now in deep love with Puro. And so in an ironic twist of fate, Puro seeks Rashid out in the camp and the two tearfully bid Ramchad, Trilok, and Lajjo farewell, forever.

Awards

* 2004: Filmfare Best Art Direction Award:Munish Sappal Won 8 awards of 9 for which it was nominated. Manoj Bajpai won National award for his role.