The film takes place in Baku in 1918-19 and then several years later. The film is based on the opera of the same name by Fikret Amirov. Sevil became the first film opera in the history of Azerbaijani cinema.
Rasim, a young mechanic, meets Surayya and falls in love with her. But he is dragged into Shirmammad's wrongdoings; Shirmammad is Surayya's father and the leader of a gang of poachers. Realising his fault, Rasim tries to convince Surayya to stop trafficking in stolen fish. After a long period of reflection, Rasim becomes aware that he cannot go against his conscience, even for love's sake.
The film tells about a band of demobilized Red Army men and two civilians who cross a Middle Asian desert. They are forced to do battle with superior forces of Basmachi rebels for the dry draw-well.
