Rhoma’s father, Subrata, a businessman living in Bandung, expects his son to be an Economics graduate. Rhoma instead pursues his love of music, which is considered lowly by his father. This often causes conflict between them and Rhoma is finally thrown out of the house. So Rhoma travels to Jakarta and calls himself Budi. He lives with a group of street musicians and when one of his friends is seriously ill and needs money for medical treatment, his father rejects his call for help. So he grabs the bag of Ani, who is looking after his father’s paperwork. Budi pays for his friend’s treatment and returns the important papers to Ani. Budi’s friend dies, but Ani and her parents sympathise with him. Budi is hired as a personal driver for Ani. Love grows between them. Meanwhile, Subrata follows his wife’s suggestion to match Ani to Rhoma, with the hope that Rhoma’s attitude will change after marriage.

Rhoma, aka Budi, a vagabond again, is hit by a motorcyclist on a rainy day. Budi is taken back by friends and treated. Meanwhile, Ani finally finds the sick Budi. They then meet often causing Surya to become suspicious and he finally catches them together at Budi’s place. Ani is forced home. Budi urges his friends to stop playing music on the street like beggars. He becomes a taxi driver while some of his friends sell newspapers or work as construction workers. Then Budi disguises himself with a thick moustache and sunglasses and goes to Ani’s house as a piano teacher. Now Ani and Budi can be together freely in her house. Meanwhile, a taxi passenger hears Budi singing to himself and offers musical instruments that he just bought. Budi forms a dangdut (traditional Indonesian music) group with his friends and calls it Soneta, which quickly gains success.