A classic tale, set in Lucknow at the turn of the century, about a dancer and
courtesan who dreams of escaping her disreputable life. Nargis (Meena Kumari)
wants to leave the brothel and set up house with her husband Shahabuddin (Ashok
Kumar). However she is rejected by his family and dies in a graveyard, after
giving birth to a daughter, Sahibjaan (Meena Kumari). The daughter too grows up
to become a dancer and courtesan.
