Slaves of the Empire unfolds against the backdrop of colonial-era Fort Kochi, a picturesque town in Kerala, India. This evocative film delves deep into the ordinary existence of a dhobi community, laundry workers who were enslaved by the Dutch during the colonial era. Through the captivating journeys of four central characters—Rajan, Pratti, Rajashekharan, and Selvaraj—the film paints a vivid portrait of their remarkable stories, depicting both their trials and triumphs, as well as their unwavering spirit of resistance and endurance.