He moves to Mumbai where he makes a living by entertaining children in a park (the famous song "Rail Gaadi", said to be India's first rap number).

He rushes someplace where she is about to be raped by the estate's cunning chief accountant, and he kills him to protect the girl.

The villagers make up a phony story to save him, but he opts to tell the truth in the court and is jailed.

Jogi Thakur finds this out by chance as he is tending to the garden outside doctor's room and overhears their conversations.

Finally he joins the beggars who have gathered for a treat for the marriage, where his daughter and son-in-law are serving food.

Adorned with such wonderful songs such as "Rail Gaadi" sung by Ashok Kumar himself, "Ek Tha Bachpan" by Lata Mangeshkar (sung by Jogi Thakur's daughter) and finally the memorable "Jeevan Se Lambe Hai Bandhu Yeh Jeevan Ke Raste" by Manna Dey (sung by the bullock-cart driver who carries Jogi Thakur near his village in the night), the movie is an emotional journey through a man's life who stands by his principles only to be finally overcome by love for his daughter.