Panchu Kumtekar lives a near-destitute lifestyle in Bombay along with his school-going brother, Shiri. He makes a living as a con-man, gambling and picking pockets with the assistant of another poverty-stricken male, Choti. He has a friend in Ashok who sells Cavendar cigarettes on busy streets by wearing stilts. One day Ashok meets with a maidservant, Sonu Mangeshkar, and both fall in love with each. Shiri is unable to pay his fees and is expelled from school but a local prostitute, Prema, comes to his assistance, much to the initial displeasure of Panchu. But he does change his mind, accepts her help, they fall in love and get married. Ashok then gets employed as a boxer with Sonu's employer, starts earning enough money to support them all, and even moves into a 3 room apartment, while Panchu decides to go honest and finds work as a Peon. Then their lives are shattered when Sonu's Goa-based dad falls ill, she goes to visit him via a ship, which sinks, killing everyone on board; Ashok...