Karma featured a four-minute kissing scene between the lead actors—Devika Rani and Rai—the longest in an Indian film.

[2] The story is about a princess (played by Devika Rani) who falls in love with a neighbouring prince much to the disapproval of the latter's father.

The female lead Devika Rani, the grand niece of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was professionally associated with Rai even before the two married in 1929.

However, when the film was released later in Hindi as Naagan Ki Raagini, it failed to impress the Indian audience.

Though largely ignored in India during its release, Karma is considered a landmark in Indian cinema due to its unprecedented kissing scene.