The film is a social drama set in Calcutta in the city's pre-independence days. Based on a novel by Rabindranath Tagore, the story centers around a group of young people involved in a terrorist movement aimed at freedom. Ela is a passionate young woman, strong in her beliefs. Indranath, the leader of the group, breathes fire against the imperialists, but is as cruel as the system he fights.

Ela introduces Atindra, a young poet, to the the group. He joins them because he is in love with Ela and gradually shows her the folly of blindly following an ideology.

Director Kumar Shahani's adaptation remains true to the original novella and its criticism of hypocritical belief systems. Though handled delicately, the film deals with heavy topics in which political and religious ideologies collide while relationships continue.