 Pandit Shivshankar Shastri (Girish Karnad) is a learned musician who is very well versed in all aspects of ancient Indian music. He also was the Chief Musician in the palaces of a former emperor. Although he does not show his feelings, he secretly loves Tulsi (Jayapradha), a woman of questionable repute, apart of being of a caste much lower than his. A young man, Kanneshwar (Sachin), who likes his daughter, Sharda (Sadhana Singh), proposes marriage, but is turned away by Shivshankar. His stubborn and rigid ways alienate him from some of his friends and a lot of villagers, and he soon becomes a laughing-stock, and is mocked by young and old alike. He is unable to secure employment for himself, and starts becoming a recluse, and waits for time to try and solve his problems.