The film depicts a story rich in incident and emotional conflict and centers on an orphaned child whose parents, fisher folk, are killed in a storm and who is adopted by a rich, kind, broad-minded philanthropist. The real drama sets in when the boy returns from England and falls in love with a lovely young socialite who reciprocates his love. On hearing of his true parentage, however, her father forbids the marriage but relents at seeing his daughter's unhappiness.

The hero's overwhelming passion for a beautiful fisher girl from the village of his birth to which he returns, bent on improving his people's lot, and his love for his charming wife make for strong emotional power climaxed tragically by the latter's death and given subtle meaning by his return to his own people and a girl of his own kind.

Dev Anand, is the hero and Meena Kumari, as his ill-starred wife, turns in a quiet, polished role in a quite difficult part.^[2] Another subtle but telling performance comes from Ashok Kumar who plays her silent lover and the hero's friend.^[2]

Usha Kiran does a gloriously rich portrayal as the fisher girl Mohnia.^[2] Bipin Gupta and Krishnakant are the hero's foster-father and the heroine's father. Jairaj, is Dev Anand's father and Leela Chitnis is his mother. The comedy is provided mainly by Gope who handles his comic and dramatic scenes very well.^[2] other actors include Shivraj and Sheikh Mukhtar.

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award - Usha Kiran