Chanderbabu (Nazir Hussain), a retired postmaster, lives in the village with his wife and two sons, Rajan (Paul Mahendra) and Bhanu (Bharat Bhushan). He continues to live there and work for the Zamindar, while his children are getting their education. Rajan is studying for his law exam. He is married to a girl (Padma) from a wealthy family whose haughty ways alarm and frightens him. Bhanu, the younger brother is fun-loving but studious. He gets influenced by the Nationalist Movement in the campus and stops his education in the last year of college. His father is disappointed and feels that Rajan is the one they can depend upon in their old age. Bhanu meets Meena (Shyama), and the two fall in love. Meera's father, Ramnarayan, is the school Principal and is impressed by Bhanu. He decides to get Meera married to Bhanu.
Direction
Bimal Roy's restrained framing makes silences scream.
Acting
Leela Chitnis owns the title — watch her eyes.
Writing
The 'failure' son gets the film's only honest love story.
Director
Bimal Roy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during the early Nehru years, the film captures middle-class anxiety about which India to serve — the new nation or the old family.
Bimal Roy reportedly cast Bharat Bhushan against type — he was known for saintly roles, making his 'rebellious dropout' casting quietly subversive.
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