The film, told in flash-back, starts with a few people troubling a disheveled, insane man holding a bedding. The mad man is Mohan (Pradeep Kumar) who finally sits down with a sympathiser and starts narrating the story. Mohan meets a young widow, Padmini (Jayshree) taking medicine for her dying mother. Padmini's mother, from her death-bed, warns her about befriending young men as she's a widow and society demands that she live alone with just a white sheet as a companion, for that's her life as a widow. Following her mother's death, Padmini goes to her paternal uncle's house to live. Her uncle has gone to Africa and her Aunt treats her badly. Mohan falls ill thinking about Padmini's situation and her rebuff when he pursues her. He is looked after by his mother and young sister (Baby Rajshree). Padmini is made to work as a maid in her Uncle's house but has a kind cousin sister, Bharti (Chandrakanta). Mohan arrives there on some work and the Aunt has chosen him as a suitable boy for Bharti's marriage. Mohan sees Padmini and tells her how he feels, which is overheard by the Aunt. The Aunt throws Padmini out of the house to fend for herself. The story continues with the problems Padmini faces, Mohan's search for Padmini and her death when she sets the house left by her mother, on fire. Mohan finds the bedding in the aftermath of the fire and goes insane.

• V. Shantaram as the drunken man
• Jayashree as Padmini
• Pradeep Kumar as Mohan
• Neelambai as Mohan's mother
• Baby Rajshree as Sogi, Mohan's sister
• Shakuntala Paranjpye as Chachi
• Naaz as Heera
• Amirbai Karnataki as neighbour
• Nimbalkar as Paanwala
• Chandrakanta as Bharti
• Jogendra as Milkman
• Aminabai as Padmini's mother

• Producer Rajkamal Kalamandir
• Director: V. Shantaram
• Story: Shams Lucknavi
• Dialogue: Shams Lucknavi
• Music: C. Ramchandra
• Lyrics: Noor Lucknavi, Diwan Sharar
• Cinematographer: G. Balkrishna
• Editor: Chintamani Borkar
• Art Director: Baburao Jadhav
• Sound: A. K. Parmar
• Make-up: Baba Vardam
• Still Photography: Kirtiwan

Shantaram played a small part as a drunk man, whose house Jayshree goes to looking for a job. His role was appreciated as the "engaging drunk" in the film. Jayshree's role as Padmini, the young widow, was commended but her "speaking in whispers" was censured. Pradeep Kumar's role as the "socially conscious" youth was termed "memorable".^[4]

Shantaram chose C. Ramchandra as opposed to Vasant Desai for two of his films, Parchhain (1952) and Subah Ka Tara. However, Desai scored the background music for both the films.^[7] The film's title song "Gaya Andhera Hua Ujala Chamka Chamka Subah Ka Tara" in Raga Pahadi was sung by Talat Mehmood and Lata Mangeshkar.^[8] The other notable songs from the film were Talat's "Apni Nakami Se Mujhko Kaam Hai", and "Badi Dhoom Dham Se Meri Bhabhi Aayi" sung by Usha Mangeshkar, which was also her debut song.^[9]

The music director was C. Ramchandra with lyrics by Noor Lucknavi and the song "Do Haklon Ka Suno Fasana" written by Diwan Sharar. The singers were Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood, C. Ramchandra, Chandrakanta and Usha Mangeshkar.^[10]

Songlist