Lord Indra's court musician, Sourosen, unmindful because his thoughts are with his beloved Madhusree who is away seeing the sunrise, accidentally drops his rhythm as he accompanies the heavenly dancer Urvashi. In anger at such a terrible mistake, Indra banishes him and Madhusree from Heaven. Sourosen is cursed and reborn as the disfigured King Aruneshwar while Madhusree becomes the beautiful Princess Kamalika. Aruneshwar, plagued with melancholy and murky dreams of a mysterious lady, comes across a picture of Kamalika one day and realises that she is the one he loves. He sends her a proposal of marriage.

In Kamalika's palace, the letter of proposal arrives, causing much excitement amongst the royal maidens. Kamalika's father gives permission for Kamalika to marry Anureshwar whom she does by proxy to his veena before proceeding to his palace.

In Aruneshwar's palace, Kamalika is only ever allowed to meet Anureshwar in the dark. As her frustration grows, she threatens she will leave unless she can see Anureshwar. He promises that she will see him as one of the dancers at a festival. When she watches, she sees a disfigured figure whom she feels destroys the dance. Unaware it is Anureshwar, she again insists that he reveals himself to her. She is shocked when she does see him and flees far into the forest.

On reflection, she realises that Anureshwar's warmth of love for her transcends his disfigurement, She resolves to return to him and the curse of disfigurement lifts from Anureshwar revealing his beauty. And so, after all the pain, suffering and frustration they have borne, the lovers are reunited.