Clara Copperfield gives birth to David when her late husband's aunt Betsey visits her. Betsey leaves the house without seeing his face. David is brought up by his nanny Peggotty for 12 years when Edward Murdstone enters his mother's life.

Peggotty takes David to her village where he spends wonderful time with her generous brother Dan and his extended family. On his return, David is told that something was hidden from him.

Edward Murdstone, now David's new father, not only intimidates him, but also brings his cruel sister Jane to take control of the household.

Clara submits to her suppression by the brother-sister duo, who continuously snaps at David when he learns his lessons. Terrified David's memory fails him during every lesson.

After one particularly poor lesson, Edward Murdstone beats David savagely, who, in self-defense, bites his hand. David is sent away to join Salem, a residential school at Gangtok.

In Gangtok, David is picked up by school master Mell whose mother resides in an old age home. David is made to wear a sign that identifies him as one who bites and stay with Tariq, the only boy staying at hostel during the holidays.

Cruel headmaster Creakel terrifies David. Dominating head boy James Steerforth sends kind and gentle Tariq to another room to become David's room partner. David misses his mother and is fearful for her plight.

David is submissive to James and reveals to him that Mell has kept his mother in an old age home. One day Mell gets into a fight with James when he finds him uttering derogatory comments. Suddenly Mr. Creakle enters the scene.

Creakle fires Mell when James reveals to him that the school master has kept his mother in an old age home. David arrives home for the holidays and gets thrilled to find that he has a baby brother.

David behaves apologetically with Edward and Jane, but they just snub him. He is even kept away from his baby brother. Clara is helpless and unable to support Peggotty's protestations.

When David departs after holidays, Clara, standing at the door, holds up her baby to him. Creakle's daughter tries to commit suicide and James has to leave the school. On his birthday, David gets the news of his mother's death.

At home, Peggotty tells David that his little brother too had died. She narrates how Clara died in her lap cared by none else. David's future becomes a matter of worry when Peggotty gets fired.

Peggotty marries taxi driver Bakshi and they pledge a lifelong commitment with David. Edward sends David to Gangtok as a laborer and paying guest of Buddhiman Misra, a kind man under heavy debts.

Misra and his wife Asha sympathize with David who suffers doing hazardous work. Peggotte approaches Murdstones, but gets no clue about David's whereabouts. She resolves to find David and sends Bakshi on this mission.

Bakshi gets no clue about David's whereabouts at Salem School. David's co-workers despise David for being different from them. Misra becomes overwhelmingly upset when he is threatened of dire consequences by his debtors.

Misra is put behind bars when he fails to pay back his debts. Asha finds it difficult even to provide milk to her babies. But she refuses to accept money from David and sells household things to feed her children.

Misra's complainant gets Mishra released from jail. Misras decide to go to Mumbai and try their luck. Bakshi and Peggotty reach David and offer to keep him with them, but David decides to go to his granny Betsey.

After a long and difficult journey on foot, an exhausted David arrives at Betsey's house. Besides his granny and a young maid Janet, he finds there an eccentric old man Dick who suffers from fits.

David gets panicky when told that Betsey has informed Edward about him. Edward and Jane come and are scolded by Betsey for death of Clara and sufferings of David. Betsey adopts David and he celebrates by flying a kite with Dick.

Betsey arranges David's education at Dr. Sanyal's Academy in Namchi and stay at her friend lawyer Wickfield's house. He gets a caring friend in Wickfield's motherless daughter Agnes.

David grows as an all rounder. Recently married Sanyal seeks Wickfield's help in getting his wife Arti's cousin Madan employed. Wickfield's wicked intern Heep curiously watches relationship between cousins.

Heep tries to create doubts in Wickfield's mind about Arti and Madan. Arti's mother intrudes into her daughter's married life along with Madan. Agonized by the memories of his late wife, Wickfield drinks heavily.

Heep starts encouraging the drinking habit of Wickfield. At farewell party for Madan who has got employed in Kochi, David and Heep see Arti's shawl in departing Madan's hand. Arti's poor condition raises further doubts.

David has a coincidental meeting with James who takes him to his home. David meets his overindulgent mother, sarcastic cousin Rosa and faithful servant Littimer. James joins David in his journey.

David meets bed ridden Bakshi and joins along with James the celebration of Ham's engagement with Em'ly. James mixes up with Ham and Em'ly and learns rafting from Ham while David wanders in memory lanes.