Papeeha (1993)

Jia, an anthropologist comes to the forests to study tribals where she meets Kabir Sagar, a forest officer. Fiercely protective of forest, Kabir initially resents Jia's visit, taking her to be another pretentious expert on an excursion. Jia returns the cold vibes but takes a liking to his assistant Bichhua, a local tribal. Who takes her to where he lives in the interiors. There she comes to know the designs of timber mafia out to axe trees in the forest and a local landlord Mangeram in cahoots with a multinational company out to acquire the forest land. Jia and Kabir too come close. Kabir presents her an ornate comb, a tribal man's way of professing his love. But she wards off any ideas of romantic involvement. Meanwhile men in the village are coaxed into cutting trees but women plan to defy them aided by Jia and Bichhua. As men come with axes to cut trees they are confronted by women from their own families clutching on to a tree each. The forest is saved and Bichhua's wedding festivities are on when Jia makes a surprise appearance wearing the comb in her hair.