Laila is a bright young teenage girl from Delhi, who is suffering from Cerebral Palsy. She’s an intelligent student studying at the Delhi University. She aspires to be a great writer and helps compose music for an Indie band at her university. She is ecstatic on getting a scholarship at the pristine New York University. Despite her father’s reluctance, she moves with her mother Shubangini, played by Revathi to Manhattan.
At the university, Laila is attracted to a boy Jared, played by William Moseley who helps her with creative writing. Later she meets a blind girl of Pakistani-Bangladeshi origin names Khanum, played by Sayani Gupta and falls in love with her. Laila gets confused with her sexual orientation as she is attracted to both Jared as well as Khanum. She sleeps with Jared and regrets it but doesn’t tell Khanum with whom she has a relationship going on.
Laila’s mother invites Khanum to spend the vacation with them in Delhi unaware of their relationship. She musters up the courage to tell her mother about her relationship with Khanum but her mother disapproves. Also she confesses to Khanum about sleeping with Jared and they break up. Shubhangini is meanwhile has a colon cancer relapse and dies.
Margarita with a straw is directed and produced by Shonali Bose. The music is composed by Mikey McCleary.
