Subrata's orthodox and conservative parents disapprove, but Arati, who is initially hesitant and nervous on her own out in the world, soon begins to prosper in her field.

Subrata spends his days idly at home, his suspicions and insecurities deepened by such things as finding lipstick in Arati's purse and overhearing her lie and describe him as a successful businessman to a male acquaintance.

Meanwhile, Priyogopal, a retired schoolteacher, begins visiting his successful former pupils after Arati starts to work, preferring to beg, rather than accept any money from her.

He gets a badly-needed pair of eyeglasses from an optometrist and some money from a lawyer, but then collapses and falls down a flight of stairs on his way to see a doctor, who chastises Subrata for neglecting his father.

After a heated exchange during which Mukherjee refuses to apologize to Edith, Arati hands him the resignation letter she did not give him before Subrata lost his job and storms off.

She tearfully apologizes for impulsively quitting her job, and, although Subarata realizes that now he will have to look elsewhere for work, he does not mention this to Arati, instead praising her for having the courage to stand up to injustice.

[5] Bosley Crowther of the New York Times gave the film a rave review in which he said: "There is nothing obscure or over-stylized about this characteristic work by Mr. Ray.

"[6] In a review from 2013, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave Mahanagar five stars out of five, describing it as "An utterly absorbing and moving drama about the changing worlds of work and home in 1950s India, and a hymn to uxorious love acted with lightness, intelligence and wit.