The film is set in Calcutta, circa 1880
The beautiful Charulata idles her life away in an opulent mansion. Her husband Bhupati is adoring and supportive. However, he is consumed by the publication of his new political newspaper and is unable to spend time with Charulata. When his younger cousin, Amal, arrives, Bhupati enlists his help to cultivate Charulata’s latent creativity in writing. An increasingly intimate relationship develops between Charulata and Amal which eventually develops into love. Blind to all but his own ideals, Bhupati is left to weather the fate of his business and marriage.