This film marks the development of Dilip Kumar’s famous tragic style of acting. Poor boy Shamu (Dilip Kumar) and rich girl Mala (Nargis) are childhood sweethearts. Mala's father (Sapru) disapproves and when the children have an accident while horse riding, he has Shamu and his mother evicted. The trauma kills the mother and turns Shamu blind. He takes up singing on the streets, grows up and meets Champa (Nimmi). She falls in love with Shamu but he cannot forget Mala. Dr Kishore (Ashok Kumar), an eye surgeon, moved by Shamu’s music, restores his eyesight. Shamu sees that Mala, to whom he has dedicated his life, is engaged to his benefactor, Dr Kishore.