一名住在美国的俄裔钢琴老师索沙兹卡夫人，她教学过分认真，因为她认为自己不单教人弹琴，还教学生品味人生。她教导一名十五岁的印度少年曼尼克，要求他绝对服从，但她以前一名女学生珍妮的男朋友却不断游说曼尼克出来演奏赚钱，因而引起了印度少年人生态度的改变。MadameSousatzka(MacLaine),anRussian-AmericanimmigrantinLondon,apianist-manqu-turned-piano-teacher,isabittermiddle-agedspinster,livesaloneinherclutteredapartmentwithpicturesofmanyaprodigiousmusician,someofthemareherstudents.Herharridantemperamentdoesn’tstopherfromgettingpromisingstudents,simplybecausesheisagoddamcompetentteacher,herlatestprotgisa16-year-oldManek(Chowdhry)ofBengaliextraction,whomshedeemstohavegreatpotentiality,buthighhopesbreedscomplications,notleasttheconflictbetweenManek’soverpr