The wife of peasant Bulat is killed by soldiers, his son Asfan is carried off. Bulat stays alone with another son, Asma. 15 years after Bulat and Asma joined the Pugachev rebellion and Bulat became famous as a defender of paupers.
The wife of peasant Bulat is killed by soldiers, and his son Asfan is taken away. Bulat is left alone with another son, Asma. Later, after 15 years, Bulat and Asma join the Pugachev rebellion and Bulat becomes renowned for defending the downtrodden.