The film was based on Tansen,[1] the 16th century musician in the court of Mughal emperor, Akbar.
The film featured 13 hit songs, performed by the leads, including "More Balapan Ke Saathi", "Rum Jhum Rum Jhum Chal Tihari", "Kahe Guman Kare Gori", "Bina Pankh Ka Panchhi", "Sapt Suran Teen Gram", "Diya Jalao" and "Baag Laga Doon Sajni".
In the village, the shepherdess Tani is considered a gifted singer, and Tansen falls in love with her.
While his workers are searching, they come across Tansen, who while singing for Tani brings a leafless tree to bloom.
One of the court musicians, Zehen Khan tells Akbar and his sick princess that the Deepak raag has the magic of igniting things.
Birbal, the court philosopher suggests to Akbar that a singer who can sing the Malhar raag (known for bringing heavy rain) should be searched for.
Along the way to his village, Tansen meets Tani near a fountain and she heals him by singing the Megh Malhar raag.
The film's portrayal of the Mughal era was seen as "affirming the place of the Muslim in India rather than interpreting history.
In a radio programme, famous composer Anil Biswas credited Khamchand Prakash for sticking to historical perspective and musical traditions by making K.L.
Saigal sing the song 'Sapt Suran Teen Gram' in the Dhrupad style, instead of the Khayal genre, which was done in other films on Tansen, as he knew well that during the life and times of Tansen, the Khayal genre did not exist.