An aristocrat is too proud to curb his extravagant lifestyle even though his riches are turning into debts.

In India in 1920 wealthy landowner Bishambar Rai lives in a palace with his wife and son. Most of the family fortune has been spent on elaborate music festivals. Bishambar feels a strong disdain for his nouveau riche neighbor, Ganguli, who is introducing an unwelcome note of modernity to the area. When the time comes to hold a ceremony for his adolescent son, the landowner finds that his credit is exhausted; but the event is held anyway in the greatest splendor, financed by the sale of his wife's jewels. Later, when Ganguli invites him to his house-warming party, Bishambar curtly refuses and arranges another festivity of his own. Since his wife and son are away, he sends for them; but on their return trip, they both die when their boat capsizes during a thunderstorm. The tragedy shatters the old man, and he retreats from reality, living a hermit-like existence. After 4 years, he is roused from his apathy when he hears that Ganguli has built a music room and is planning an extravagant festival. Bishambar reopens his music room, scrapes together the rest of his money, and holds a lavish party. This final victory over his neighbor strains his mental balance; he orders his dead son's horse to be saddled and gallops away toward the river. From the palace steps, his two remaining servants watch as he is thrown from the horse; they arrive in time for him to die in their arms.