By ACT 1 – ROOTED IN ROUTINE Tourist
The film opens with a series of fast-paced cuts showing the routine life of the Sharmas: Tourist
- Venkatesh Sharma is glued to his laptop even at the breakfast table.
- Lakshmi does household chores while watching travel shows in the background.
- Anvi is drawing pictures of mountains and oceans in her school books.
- Subbarao tries to convince everyone to go on a trip, but no one listens.
One day, Anvi’s school announces a National Travel & Culture Photo Contest. She submits photos she clicked with an old phone while visiting a local zoo. Unexpectedly, she wins — and the prize is a sponsored 20-day all-India travel program with family, filmed by a documentary crew Tourist .
Venkatesh tries to decline. “Who has time to wander around like hippies?” But Lakshmi, Subbarao, and Anvi convince him, citing how “once in a lifetime” this chance is.
ACT 2 – MISADVENTURES & MAGIC
DELHI – Clash of Comfort Zones
The journey begins. They land in Delhi where chaos, culture, and crowd overwhelm them. Their cab driver, Ramu (played hilariously by Priyadarshi), becomes an unofficial guide.
- Venkatesh fights with a chaiwala over “no sugar” chai.
- Lakshmi tries chaat and has a comically spicy reaction.
- Anvi captures street musicians and sleeping dogs — showing India through her lens.
The family ends up on the front page of a local tabloid after a dramatic rickshaw accident involving a cow, earning the nickname “Crazy South Tourists.”
JAIPUR – Where Emotions Emerge
In the Pink City, they visit forts, palaces, and puppet shows. At Amer Fort, Anvi wanders off chasing a camel and goes missing for 30 minutes, triggering panic.
Venkatesh breaks down publicly, realizing how his controlling nature could have cost him his daughter.
That night, he hugs Anvi and promises, “From now on, I’m not your boss. I’m your backpack buddy.”
Lakshmi has a personal transformation too. After years of feeling “just like a mother,” she tries local Rajasthani dressing, learns pottery, and even joins a folk dance event. Subbarao records it proudly on his phone — his daughter-in-law finally blooming.
RISHIKESH – Spiritual Connections
At Rishikesh, the family participates in the evening Ganga Aarti.
Subbarao opens up to Anvi about how he gave up his travel dreams for his son’s education. Anvi, wise beyond her years, says, “But now you can live that dream with us.”
They try river rafting — leading to a hilarious moment where Venkatesh falls off the raft, and Lakshmi ends up rescuing him. The documentary crew captures this with dramatic music, and the clip becomes a viral meme.
ACT 3 – CLIMAX IN THE CLOUDS
MANALI – Where Everything Changes
Finally, the family reaches Manali, the destination of the photography finale.
The mountains, snow, and silence contrast sharply with the chaos they’ve experienced. Venkatesh starts waking up early, meditating, and smiling more. Lakshmi opens up about her childhood dreams of becoming a teacher — a dream she buried under domestic duties.
Anvi’s photography is displayed at the event. Her pictures feature:
- A chaiwala smiling with broken teeth.
- Her mother dancing in Jaipur.
- Her grandfather laughing in a village school.
- Her father holding her hand at the airport.
The final picture: The entire family, silhouetted against a mountain sunset.
The audience at the gallery is moved. Anvi wins the Young Lens of India award. She gives a short speech:
“I clicked faces of India… but I also clicked love, change, and memories. I found my country, and I found my family.”
ACT 4 – RETURN AND REBIRTH
Back home, life is no longer the same.
- Venkatesh declines a high-paying promotion and instead starts a venture called “Family Trails” — a travel finance advisory for middle-class families who want to see India.
- Lakshmi starts online travel storytelling for homemakers under “Lakshmi’s Layovers.”
- Subbarao becomes a local YouTube favorite with a series called “Thatha On Tour.”
- Anvi gets a DSLR gift from her school and is mentored by a national photographer.
In the final scene, the Sharmas are seen at Rajahmundry railway station, bags packed, boarding a train to Sikkim.
As the train departs, a final voiceover by Subbarao plays:
“Tourism isn’t just about visiting places. It’s about visiting yourself. And sometimes… finding what was missing all along.”
Story:
Title Card: “Sometimes, the road you travel changes the road inside you.”
INTRODUCTION – THE CITY HUSTLE
In the bustling lanes of Hyderabad, the Sharma family lives a structured life. Venkatesh Sharma (played by Srikanth), a senior bank manager, is a man bound by schedules. His wife, Lakshmi (Meena), is a homemaker with dreams of travel shelved for years. Their 9-year-old daughter Anvi is a bright, curious soul, often lost in books about the world. Venkatesh’s retired father, Subbarao (Harshavardhan), is a humorous and eccentric man who once dreamt of exploring India but never did due to responsibilities.
Their lives are monotonous, predictable — until one day, Anvi wins an all-India travel photography competition for children and is invited to a national camp in Manali. The only catch? Her family must accompany her as part of a cultural documentary titled “Tourist Family.” The documentary features ordinary families experiencing extraordinary places.
After some initial resistance, especially from Venkatesh (who believes in saving, not “wasting time and money on travel”), the family reluctantly agrees. Subbarao is the most excited — his long-lost dream of traveling is finally coming true.
PHASE 1 – THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Their journey starts in Delhi, where they’re first exposed to the hustle of Chandni Chowk, the majesty of India Gate, and the vibrancy of Old Delhi. The family, especially Venkatesh, struggles to adjust. He constantly checks emails, attends video calls, and tries to “plan” every hour. Lakshmi starts rediscovering herself through conversations with other tourist mothers and tries local fashion and food. Subbarao bonds with street artists, while Anvi begins her photo journey.
The camera crew filming them often captures their arguments and humorous incidents. One viral clip of Venkatesh losing his slipper in the Yamuna ghat turns them into an internet sensation — “The Tourist Family.”
PHASE 2 – UNEXPECTED DETOURS
From Delhi, they travel to Jaipur. Here, the family’s dynamics begin to shift. At the Amer Fort, Anvi gets lost for a brief time, causing panic. Venkatesh blames everyone, but later realizes that his need for control makes him miss precious moments. He apologizes sincerely — a turning point in his character arc.
Subbarao teaches local kids about Telugu culture at a school in Pushkar, and his video also goes viral. Lakshmi starts a blog, “Lakshmi Travels,” sharing her personal stories and pictures, which resonates with thousands of homemakers across India.
Their next stop — Rishikesh — brings in some emotional depth. Here, they participate in the Ganga Aarti. Venkatesh opens up about his childhood dream to travel with his father, which never happened due to financial pressures. Subbarao gets emotional, realizing how sacrifices defined their lives. The two finally share a deep father-son hug — something decades overdue.
PHASE 3 – THE TRANSFORMATION
In Manali, the final destination, Anvi’s photography exhibit is a big event. Her work captures the soul of India — not just monuments but the faces, stories, and everyday beauty of Indian life.
Meanwhile, Venkatesh, now relaxed and joyful, surprises everyone by planning an impromptu trek. He says, “Sometimes, it’s okay to get lost — that’s how you find life.” Lakshmi is proud, Anvi hugs him, and Subbarao wipes a tear, saying, “Finally, you’ve become a traveler… not just a tourist.”
The documentary crew interviews the family at the end. Each member shares how travel changed them:
- Venkatesh says he found a new version of himself who doesn’t just live, but feels life.
- Lakshmi realizes she’s more than just a mother or wife — she’s her own person.
- Subbarao says, “At 70, I took my first selfie on a mountain. And it wasn’t too late.”
- Anvi ends with, “Every photo I took was of us — discovering the world and each other.”
EPILOGUE – A NEW LIFE
Back in Hyderabad, the family is famous. Venkatesh resigns from his high-pressure job and starts a travel finance consultancy for middle-class families. Lakshmi’s blog turns into a full-fledged YouTube channel. Subbarao is invited to schools to tell travel stories to kids. And Anvi? She wins the National Young Photographer Award.
The movie ends with the family planning their next trip — this time, to the Northeast — without cameras, without deadlines. Just them, their memories, and a packed bag of laughter.
