A well-off family is paid an unexpected, and rather unwanted, visit by a man claiming to be the woman's long-lost uncle. The initial suspicion with which they greet the man slowly dissolves as he regales them with stories of his travels.

A well-off family is paid an unexpected, and rather unwanted, visit by a man claiming to be the woman's long-lost uncle. The initial suspicion with which they greet the man slowly dissolves as he regales them with stories of his travels, tales that are at odds with their conventional middle-class perspective on the world.—Anonymous

The film sees Anila receiving a letter from a man claiming to be her uncle, a man who disappeared thirty-five years prior. He turns up at her family home professing to be an anthropologist, a globally seasoned traveler en route from the United States to Australia. The family is suspicious of the stranger, believing him to be an impostor pushing a financial scam. After a grilling from the family's lawyer, he leaves as unexpectedly as he arrives, leaving behind a stunned family, and some very insightful observations.—Mr Bongo

This tells the story of a woman and her husband who are visited by a man who claims to be the woman's long-lost uncle. The couple is initially skeptical of the man's identity but gradually come to accept him. The film explores themes of civilization, humanity, and the nature of truth, and is known for its philosophical depth and simplicity. "Agantuk" is notable for its introspective and thought-provoking narrative, a hallmark of Ray's filmmaking style. It reflects on the ideas of cultural identity and the clash between traditional Indian values and modernity, themes Ray frequently explored in his works.