Sultana, a small time prostitute and her pimp Khudabaksh migrate to the metropolis bringing with them their dreams and their meagre belongings. There they are helped by the madam, Anwari.

As Sultana encounters the city and its inhabitants new perspectives open up... sad, ironical, comical but always mysterious. She really cannot cope with the big city and her business collapses. Khudabaksh tries his hand at various jobs, is unsuccessful and, in desperation goes off with a holy man. Sultana's loneliness and despair get objectified in her desire for a black salwar that she needs to complete her ensemble for the festival of Moharram.