In the old city of Delhi, off Chandni Chowk, lives a once famous thumri singer Sardari Begum. She has retired and wants the tradition to continue through her daughter Sakina. One evening, a skirmish breaks out in the neighbourhood and Sardari is killed in an accidental stone missile. Due to tension of the forthcoming elections, her funeral becomes a media event. A reporter Tehzeeb Abbasi is sent by the editor to cover the funeral.
Tehzeeb was shocked to see her father Jabbar Abbasi among the mourners and that Sardari Begum was his sister. She had been disowned by the family for learning music from a courtesan. Due to her passion for music, she ran away from home and ended up as a mistress of a local landlord, and later led a life as a successful singer.
Intrigued with her aunt's history, Tehzeeb sets out to collect material from people who were close to Sardari Begum. She discovers in Sardari's chequered life a startling parallel with her own predicament.