Qaidi Band talks about the harsh reality of politics and the justice system. Though the movie’s central theme is Music which is highlighted through 7 prisoners. But behold, these are not ordinary prisoners. Sanju (Aadar Jain), Bindu (Anya Singh), Rufy (Mikhail Yawalkar), Maskeen (Prince Parvinder Singh), Ogu (Peter Muxka Manuel), Sange (Cyndy Khojol) and Tatyana (Anna Ador) are all undertrials in a jail which houses hundreds of criminals and other undertrials like them. The seven aforementioned undertrials are all either innocent people who’ve been framed for crimes they haven’t committed, or have long completed the jail term for their crimes but are still rotting in jail due to the slow movement of justice and the machinations of politicians, government, jail authorities and the faulty system.
As per the wishes of jailor Dhulia (Sachin Pilgaonkar), the seven undertrials prepare a patriotic song for Independence Day celebrations in the jail. The song, ‘I am India’, becomes a rage with the public, and the undertrials become overnight sensations with the youth of the country. After this, Sange and Tatyana leave the jail.
Sensing the sway the undertrials have on the youth, the minister (Raman Khatri) asks jailor Dhulia to make the undertrials compose more songs which he could then use to influence the youth to vote for him. Dhulia forces the five undertrials – Sanju, Bindu, Rufy, Maskeen and Ogu – to make more songs. So that they ‘work’ for the minister, the jailor doesn’t even let them appear in court to plead their cases. The five under trials, already fed up of being in jail, some of them for crimes they haven’t even committed, rue the fact that their future is doomed. Even otherwise, they realize that they can’t afford lawyer Vachani who is the only one who can secure their freedom.
The five undertrials realise that they are going to be used by the jailor and so they hatch a plan to escape from jail by using music as the excuse. They get this idea when they collaborate (in jail) with a music band, Middle Finger. Valley (Jitin Gulati) of Middle Finger tells them that if they were not in jail, they could easily have participated in a forthcoming rock concert and would have definitely won it. The prize money of the concert, he adds, is Rs. 15 lakh. This sets the minds of the five undertrials thinking because they need the money to hire lawyer Vachani (Ram Kapoor) who can ensure their release but who is very expensive.
The five band members escape one day. They are firm in their resolve to expose the system, the government, the jail authorities and everyone responsible for the pathetic state of the undertrials in Indian jails, and to present before the public the plight of undertrials in jails – all through their songs. But the police and jail authorities are hot on their trail.
What happens thereafter? Do they get caught or do they attain freedom?