Based on a novel named Anusandhan by Shaktipada Rajguru, it stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhee Gulzar, Amjad Khan, Utpal Dutt and Prema Narayan in lead roles, while Tarun Ghosh, Abhi Bhattacharya, Asit Sen, Sujit Kumar, Amarnath Mukherjee play other supporting roles, with Nimu Bhowmik in a special appearance.

The film is remembered for the classic songs "Haye Wo Pardesi","Apne Pyar Ke Sapne Sach Hue" and "Kaliram Ka Khul Gaya Pol".

In Takdah tea estate in Darjeeling, Hariya Sahu (Utpal Dutt), famous as Sahuji, is a merchant who has woven a web of corruption in every layer of the social fabric.

Desperate villagers make a plea to the owner of the tea garden, who calls (presumably) the higher ups in police force and they promise to send someone.

Next day, while crossing a bridge, Kaaliram and his thugs meet a mysterious stranger on a mule, whose face is completely covered in a Sombrero-type hat popular in that region.

In the meanwhile, Abhijeet meets and falls in love with Tamosha (in Bengali) or Rajni (in Hindi) (Rakhee Gulzar), the blind daughter of the Boro Babu.