Taashe is a story about one of the purest forms of love – first love and how the society’s evils haunt love across all ages. Shiv Kothari, a playful and carefree 8-year-old village boy, comes from a humble background of Tasha (a folk instrument) players. While Gulab Kothari, his father, persistently tries to make him his protégé in the hope of passing on their family legacy and see it being carried forward, Shiv is least interested. However, one fine day, Shiv agrees to accompany Gulab to a function he’s hired to play at. There, amongst the crowd of people dancing to the music, emerges Jugni, a sweet, innocent 6-year-old. Shiv’s eyes fall on her and his world goes spinning. He falls in love with her at first sight. In order to impress her with the help of his friend, Shiv becomes a totally different person – from chopping off his signature long tresses to stealing a Payal from his mother for her. However, he learns that she only likes to wear Ghungroo as she aspires to be a kathak dancer. Shiv takes a vow to learn to play Tasha in order to earn and bring Ghungroo for her. His father is stunned yet proud to see this sudden transformation. In a short while, Shiv feels confident and asks to go instead of his father to play at the next event. At the event, Shiv’s world comes crashing down when he sees Jugni dressed up as a bride, wearing a Payal. He tries to go near her but to no avail. In a desperate and final attempt to stop her marriage, he repeatedly starts shouting out loud – “Main ghungroo leke wapas aaunga!” (I’ll get the ghungroo and come back for you again!)
