Mamta

Monish Rai departs India to pursue higher studies in England, backed by his wealthy family. He quietly fears that announcing an intended marriage to Devayani could jeopardize their support. To protect their future, they agree to delay the wedding until he returns.

Devayani's father is overwhelmed by mounting debts after Monish's departure. He borrows from Rakhal, a man who pretends to be a friend but is actually predatory and unscrupulous. Rakhal's eye on Devayani grows as he positions himself as a trusted adviser while plotting to marry her.

Rakhal makes a bold proposal to Devayani's father, offering wealth and security in exchange for Devayani's hand. Devayani rejects the plan, insisting she does not want to wed a man she does not love. The father presses on, convinced the match could ease his financial troubles.

Desperate, Devayani seeks financial help from Monish's mother, hoping for a way out. Monish's mother refuses, citing propriety and the lack of consent. With the wedding still looming, Devayani finds herself with few viable options.

The wedding to Rakhal goes ahead despite Devayani's protests. Rakhal begins to court her after the ceremony, but she remains repulsed by his advances. The union is framed as a socially advantageous arrangement rather than a loving match.

Rakhal exhibits reckless behavior, spending money on drinking and gambling as his fortune dwindles. He grows irritable and violent, tiring of Devayani's rejection. Their fragile finances and Rakhal's vice sow the seeds of ongoing misery.

Devayani becomes pregnant and gives birth to a daughter named Suparna. Around this time, Devayani's father dies, leaving her without any familial support. She faces an uncertain future with an infant and a marriage that has never truly been fulfilling.

Devayani's father dies, removing any remaining chance of family backing. Her precarious position as a wife and mother deepens in the wake of this loss. The family’s financial and emotional support evaporates.

Rakhal is briefly jailed after a drunken brawl at a brothel, revealing that his wealth has vanished. Devayani's situation becomes more precarious as the marriage deteriorates. The couple's fortunes collapse into hardship and instability.

Unable to endure the misery, Devayani runs away and enters the world of a devadasi, performing for a male audience. She seeks a modicum of independence and dignity through a different form of work. This new life brings both opportunity and vulnerability.

Rakhal tracks Devayani and makes several attempts to kidnap his daughter Suparna, seeking to reclaim control. Devayani continues to perform to support herself and her child. The danger posed by Rakhal intensifies as her new life unfolds.

To shield Suparna, Devayani places her in a Christian-run orphanage, stipulating that the child must not be put up for adoption. She promises to contribute to Suparna's upkeep whenever possible. This marks a painful separation and a vow of care from afar.

Devayani relocates and dedicates herself to earning a living by singing and dancing in a traditional-style kotha. She pours herself into her craft, hoping to survive and perhaps one day reconnect with her child. The life at the kotha becomes her new reality.

Monish returns to the city after completing his education abroad and discovers that Devayani's wedding has taken place. He remains unmarried for life, unable to forget the woman he loves. His longing becomes a quiet tragedy tied to unfulfilled dreams.

One day on the street, Monish spots a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Devayani and calls out to her. The woman turns away and slips into a taxi, avoiding recognition. Those around him identify the lookalike as Pannabai, a Lucknow-based tawaif.