Viji is an eleven-year-old girl who serves as the primary protector for her older sister. Driven by a fierce sense of independence and a desperate need to escape her father's physical abuse, she leads her sibling away from their rural village to the bustling streets of Chennai. She is highly cautious and intensely proud, often refusing charity because she wants to earn her own way. She harbors a quiet dream of one day becoming a teacher, though the harsh realities of street survival frequently force her to push those hopes aside.

Rukku is Viji's twelve-year-old sister who has an intellectual disability. Though initially timid and entirely dependent on Viji, she proves remarkably adaptable to their new life in the city. She possesses a natural talent for stringing beads into necklaces, a skill that becomes a crucial source of income for the runaway children. Her gentle demeanor and ability to find joy in small moments ground the group in times of extreme stress.

Arul is an older ragpicker boy who claims the abandoned city bridge as his territory. He is a natural leader among the unhoused children and quickly extends his protection and friendship to Viji and Rukku. Carrying the deep trauma of losing his entire family in a coastal tsunami, Arul relies heavily on his Christian faith to cope with his grief. He focuses entirely on surviving the present day, avoiding thoughts of the distant future.

Muthu is a younger ragpicker who works alongside Arul sorting trash at the city dumps. Having previously endured enslavement in a sweatshop and abuse at an orphanage, he harbors a profound distrust of adults and formal institutions. Despite his difficult past, he provides frequent comic relief for the group and has a special talent for making Rukku laugh.

Appa is the father of Viji and Rukku. He struggles with severe alcoholism and regularly inflicts physical violence on his wife. When his violent behavior escalates to targeting his daughters, it serves as the catalyst for Viji's firm decision to run away from home.

Celina Aunty is an older woman who directs a safe home and school for working children in the city. She recognizes the extreme vulnerability of the unhoused youth she encounters but avoids forcing her help upon them. She is a perceptive and patient figure who understands the deep emotional wounds her students carry.

Amma is Viji and Rukku's mother. She married outside her caste, resulting in her extended family disowning her completely. She endures severe physical abuse from her husband, choosing to remain in the marriage out of a sense of traditional duty and an intense fear that she cannot provide for her daughters on her own.

Kutti is a friendly stray puppy that the girls encounter shortly after arriving in the city. He bonds instantly with Rukku, providing her with comfort and a sense of normalcy on the streets. He becomes a vital member of the children's chosen family and is fiercely protective of them.

Teashop Aunty is the wife of a tea merchant in the city. When the girls accidentally break a glass, she takes pity on them, eventually offering them food, a raincoat, and a large bag of beads. She provides them with a rare moment of adult kindness in an otherwise harsh environment.

Kumar is a young adolescent who leads a rival group of ragpickers at the Blue Hills trash dump. He maintains territorial control over certain scavenging areas near the ocean but occasionally shows moments of reason and mutual respect when interacting with Arul.

Sridar is a small, aggressive boy in Kumar's ragpicker gang. He frequently causes trouble for Viji and her friends at the dumps and recycling shops, driven by the intense daily competition for survival resources.

Praba is a young girl living in a wealthy city neighborhood. She represents the extreme economic disparity of Chennai, possessing material comforts the runaway children can only imagine. She takes a strong liking to Kutti when the children collect recycling from her home.