The film Pippa is set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of 1971, in which East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) fought for independence from Pakistan. The plot centers on Captain Balram Singh Mehta, an officer in the Indian military, who is initially assigned a desk job due to disciplinary problems. At the same time, his older brother Major Ram Mehta is sent on secret missions to East Pakistan and his sister Radha is recruited as a cryptographer for the Indian secret service.
While Major Ram is supporting the Bengali freedom fighters, the Mukti Bahini, against the Pakistani army, he is captured and tortured, but does not reveal any information. Captain Balram is eventually sent to the front, where he leads a successful tank operation against Pakistani troops in the Battle of Garibpur after the death of his superior.
When it becomes known that Major Ram is missing, Balram does everything in his power to rescue his brother. With the support of the Mukti Bahini, he manages to liberate the camp where Major Ram is being held captive and frees many Bengali women who were being held as sex slaves. Shortly afterwards, the Pakistani army surrendered and Bangladesh gained its independence. The three siblings finally return home to their mother.

The film links personal fates with the historical events of the war and shows the challenges that the protagonists have to face on various levels.