In this historical drama, a British general in pre-Independence Madras ill-prepares for the eventuality of Indian independence and its aftermath. The film depicts the inertia of colonial rule and the collision of cultures as the date of Indian independence draws near. The general, entitled to a sense of imperial privilege and accustomed to the natives abiding by his every decree, attempts to maintain the status quo by keeping the news of India's freedom from the villagers while events spiral out of his control.