The film is set in History of the Republic of India, where industrialisation is slowly creeping in. The focus is on tongawallahs who earn their living transporting people on Tanga (carriage) (horse carts). Their livelihood is threatened when the son of a rich landlord (Jeevan) begins operating a bus service in the town, which he subsidises heavily with the sole intention of first driving the tongawallahs out of the town and then making a profit.