The viewer is taken to what the old man is trying to articulate going back to just before Partition and his relationship with his love. He is a Sikh and assures her he is not leaving despite rumours of partition. One joke was they could both convert to Christianity and get married in a church. Keenu, to reassure Jiya has her name tattooed on his wrist which we can view on the old man's wrist.
We are shown men fleeing and many not able to board extremely overcrowded trains. We see enemies killing the Sikhs with Keenu barely escaping. More frightening is the plight of the women following who were separated by mutual agreement as it was thought they would slow the men down. However as enemies (could have been Muslims or Hindus) the women realized they not only could be beaten, but also raped. Young girls had their hair cut to appear as boys, but as the fear became more imminent some girls had their throats slit to avoid the shame.
The old man gradually makes sense to the grandson while the rest of the family just feels his dementia is getting worse. We learn that Keenu had made an early attempt to revisit his lover, but was discouraged about the prospects of her being alive. Still as he approaches death he retains hope and the desire to read a poem he wrote for her. We see a grandson wanting to help and the old man deteriorating. I will leave it there.
Another theme was the grandson had become a Non Resident Indian, but not one able to hold down a job. He marvels at his grandfather's desire to go home and wonders if that is something he has lost.
"Main Vaapas Aaunga" is likely to be involved with awards as it has a lot of top notch cast and crew. Here are some of them.
Imtiaz Ali was director and script writer. He has 18 writing credits, 11 directing and 6 for producing. including "Ahista Ahista" (2006), "Love Aaj Kal" (2009), "Jab We Met" (2007), "Rockstar" (2011), "Highway" (2014), "Tamasha" (2015) and "Amar Singh Chamkila" (2023) Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/04/amar-singh-chamkila-used-dirty.html
A.R. Rahman provided the music. He had done commercial jingles when Mani Ratman invited him to write for a film "Roja" (1992). I had not realized that Rahman wrote for the Tamil market, but has expanded to Bollywood, American, English etc. With the encouragement of Andrew Lloyd Webber he wrote for a stage musical, "Bombay Dreams" that had long runs in both London and New York. He has 221 composing credits and 90 for the music department (often backup singer) including "Bombay" (1995), "Fire" (1996), "Lagaan Once Upon a Time in India" (2001), "Swades" (2004), "Water" (2005), "Rang de Basanti" (2006), "Ghajini" (2008), "Slum Dog Millionaire" (2008), "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" (2012), "Highway" (2014), "100 Foot Journey" (2014) "Tamasha" (2015) "The Goat Life" (2024) and Maidaan (2024) Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/07/the-making-of-laga and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/08/the-goat life.html and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/06/maidaan.html Elsewhere Rahman had commented that he often gives producers a difficult time in order to get what he wants and feels the film benefits.
Sylvester Fonseca was the cinematographer. He has 32 cinematography credits and 2 for the camera & electrical department including "Sacred Games" (2018-19) and "Amar Singh Chamkila" (2023).
Aarti Bajaj was the editor. She has 56 editor credits including "Jab We Met" (2010), "Udann" (2010), "Karthik Calling Karthik" (2011), "No One Killed Jessica" (2011), "Ishaqzaade" (2012), "Highway" (2014), "Tamasha" (2025) and "Amar Singh Chamkila" (2023). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/02/tamasha-wonderful-story.html
Naseeruddin Shah played Ishar Singh Grewal, the old dying man. He once formed a traveling theatre group and has done a Hollywood movie. He has 271 acting credits, 6 for the music department and 2 for producing including "Hey Ram" (2000), "Monsoon Wedding" (2001), "Maqbool" (2004), "Omkara" (2006), "Amal" (2007), "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" (2011) and "Gehraiyaan" (2022), "IC814: The Kandarhar Hijack" (2024). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/09/ic-814-kandahar-hijack.html
Diljit Dosanjh played Nivair Singh, the grandson and was also a playback singer. He has 101 acting credits and 41 for the music department including "Udta Punjab" (2016), "Phillauri" (2017), "Soorma" (2018), "Good Newwz" (2019) and "Amar Singh Chamila" (2023). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/good-newwz.html
Vedang Raina played the young lover Keenu. He has 3 acting credits and 2 for the music department.
Sharvari played Jiya, the young lover abandoned. She has 8 acting credits and 3 for assistant directing including "Bajirao Mastani" (2015) and "Maharaj" (2015). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/07/maharaj.html
Rajat Kapoor played Iqbal. He has 84 acting credits, 14 for directing and 10 for writing including "Dil Chahta Hai" (2001), "Monsoon Wedding" (2002), "Khoya Khoya Chand" (2007), "Beja Fry" (2007)"Dasvidaiya" (2008)"Midnight's Children" (2012), "Ankhon Dekhi" (2013), "Drishyam" (2015), "Kapoor & Sons" (2016), "Drishyam 2" (2022), "Saare Jahan Se Accha" (2025), "Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders" (2025) and "Raid 2" (2025). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/11/driishyam-bollywood-remake-masterpiece.html and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/a-nawazuddin-siddiqu-sequel-is-very-good.html
Dolly Ahulwalia played Keenu's grandmother. She has 32 acting credits and 18 for costume design. As a costume designer she worked on three films with Deepa Methta, "Fire' (1996)"Earth," (1998) "Water," (2005 also acted) and "Midnight's Children" (2012). She won costuming awards for "Bhaag Milka Bhaag" (2013) and "Haider" (2014). She also won supporting actor awards for "Vicky Donor" (2012). http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/04/vicky-donor-cf-dharala-prabhu.html
"Main Vaapas Aaunga" is an important movie as it concerned with the Partition which many of our westerners have long forgotten. There is a short gruesome scene illustrating extreme desperation. It is also an enduring love story. It is available subtitled on Netflix. I do recommend it
