It is a remake of the 1955 Bengali film Sabar Uparey starring Uttam Kumar and Chabi Biswas which itself was based on A.J.

[2] Kala Pani was the story of a young man who, upon learning about his father's wrongful implication in a fifteen-year-old murder, vows to bring the true criminals to justice and release his innocent father from prison, with the help of a fearless journalist and a prostitute, who is the eye-witness of the murder and have evidence against the criminals.

Dev Anand star as the young man named Karan Mehra, while Madhubala and Nalini Jaywant play a fearless journalist Asha and a prostitute Kishori respectively.

Upon its release on 9 May 1958, the film became a critical and commercial success, with the leading actors earning high praises for their respective portrayals.

[3] At the 6th Filmfare Awards, Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

On meeting his father, Karan learns that he has been jailed (colloquially referred to as "Kala Pani") for a murder that he did not commit.

Karan comes to meet one of the witnesses who had spoken for his father in the court, who tells him about the investigating officer, Inspector Mehta.

Inspector Mehta also tells Karan that he overheard Kishori and Jumman speaking of a letter, and that this might prove to be a mighty proof of Shankarlal's innocence.

He commented on the performances of lead actors: "The facile charm toned down, the mannerisms off-loaded, [Anand] brings intensity and conviction to his role.