Notebook 2019

Captain Kabir Kaul, portrayed by Zaheer Iqbal, is a young man who finds himself grappling with the painful memories of his past as a retired Indian Army officer. This anguish stems from a haunting incident where he failed to save a young boy from the perils of a landmine—an overpowering regret that led him to leave his military career prematurely. The boy, in a state of panic and misjudgment, ended up sprinting into a heavily mined field after Kabir mistook him for a Pakistani fleeing the scene.

Summoned to the picturesque yet troubled region of Srinagar by his uncle Hameed, Kabir discovers a distressing situation; his late father’s school has fallen into the hands of the Government and is in dire need of teachers to prevent its closure. Answering the call for support, Kabir steps up to teach at the Wular Public School, a quaint yet isolated institution located centrally within a serene lake. The only means to reach this school is via a precarious boat ride across the water.

Upon settling into his new role, Kabir stumbles upon a poignant diary left behind by the previous teacher, Firdaus Quadri. The diary reveals Firdaus’s dreams, ambitions, and her struggles, including the emotional weight of her tattoo—a star etched on her hand in memory of her father. The tattoo became a point of contention with the principal, leading to her transfer to this remote school. Firdaus, feeling secluded and surrounded by desolation, reminisces about her controlling boyfriend, Junaid (Mozim Bhatt), which adds another layer of complexity to her story.

Kabir’s journey faces challenges right from the get-go; after an unfortunate fall from his bed leads to a broken arm, he finds himself cut off from the outside world with no network connectivity or electricity. As the days pass, however, students such as Waqar (Baba Hatim), Tariq (Mir Mohammed Zayan), Iqrah, Shama (Soliha Maqbool), and Dua begin to trickle into the school eager to learn. Yet, their initial encounters with Kabir reveal an unruly side, causing him to doubt his abilities as an educator.

As he reads through Firdaus’s diary, he begins to draw inspiration, including an account of her heartbreak after Junaid’s abrupt breakup over her reluctance to return home to Srinagar. When Junaid reappears at Wular, the students unearth a deeply distressing discovery—a lifeless body floating beneath their makeshift toilet, which leaves an indelible mark on the young minds.

In parallel, Kabir’s personal life spirals downwards when he unexpectedly visits his girlfriend Dolly, only to face the heartbreak of their breakup as she claims his departure from the army renders him unsuitable for marriage. Battered but determined, he channels his energy into his role as a teacher, even facing off against a water snake that invades their classroom.

Through the trials he endures, Kabir’s affection for Firdaus blossoms, driven by her heartfelt writings. However, the best intentions lead to conflicts in unexpected ways. A violent storm claims Firdaus’s diary when it slips into the lake amidst Kabir’s desperate attempts to protect Shama from danger. Nonetheless, Kabir’s resolve strengthens as he uncovers Imran’s plight, whose father, Yakub, wishes to dismantle his education in favor of domestic obligations.

Utilizing insights from Firdaus’s diary, Kabir successfully champions Imran’s return to school, all while grappling with his conflicting emotions upon learning that Firdaus is preparing for her own marriage—still lingering in her heart is an unyielding love for her previous life and the children she nurtured. On the eve of her wedding, Firdaus uncovers Junaid’s infidelity, leading her to make a life-altering choice and return to her beloved school, greeted with joy by the children.

In the climax, both Firdaus and Kabir must confront their past decisions, ultimately resulting in a tense standoff between Yakub and Kabir over Imran’s future. Presented with violence, courage prevails as Imran defies his father’s authority. As the dust settles, it becomes clear that love may just bridge the chasms created by fear and regret, leading Firdaus to seek solace and connection with Kabir once more.

The heartwarming conclusion reveals that life at Wular Public School continues not just as an educational endeavor but as a tapestry woven with love, understanding, and reconciliation, all while nurturing the immense potential lying within its students.