The story of a young boy, Apu, who lives in a small village in rural Bengal, India, in the early 20th century. His father earns a meagre living as a pujari (a priest) but dreams of a better career as a poet and playwright. His mother takes care of the children and his elderly cousin. With prospects drying up in the village, the father travels to the city to seek a better job, but is gone longer than expected. While that, his harried mother must hold the family together.