Early-1940s, rural British India. When a woman decides to fight against the village's despotic subedar and is supported by the guard of the local spice factory, more women join to defy the prevailing oppression.

Smita Patil
as Sonbai

Naseeruddin Shah
as Subedar

Om Puri
as Chowkidar Abu Miya

Deepti Naval
as Saraswati

Suresh Oberoi
as Mukhi

Benjamin Gilani
as Masterji

Harish Patel
as Pandit

Paresh Rawal
as Villager

Amole Gupte
as

Dina Pathak
as Maanki, factory worker