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Movie Reviews |
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By Deepa Gahlot, June 20, 2007 - 15:20 IST
As the children's film Chain Kuli Ki Main Kuli gets set to release this week, we flashback to one of the most loved children's film of all time –
Boot Polish (1954). Produced by Raj Kapoor and directed by Prakash Arora, the film had a triumph-of-the-human-spirit moral.
Belu (Baby Naaz) and Bhola (Ratan Kumar) are left to the care of their wicked aunt Kamla (Chand Burque) when their mother dies. She forces
them to beg in the streets and grabs all the money they get.
A bootlegger John Chacha (David) teaches them to lead a life of self-respect and work for a living instead of begging. They scrimp and save to
buy a shoe-polish kit and start shining shoes. Kamla finds out about what they have been doing behind her back, beats them and throws them
out of the house.
John Chacha gives them shelter, but then he is arrested and the kids are left to fend for themselves. When it rains and people don't get their
shoes polished any more, the children are in danger of starving. A rich family adopts Belu and treats her well, but she keeps moping for her
brother.
The story of the children's struggle to survive and look after each other is as heart-warming as it is melodramatic; but the film has the artistic
quality (inspired in style by Italian neo-Realism) and high calibre performances expected of a RK production.
The end is too pat and a bit predictable, and does not really find a solution to the problem of destitute children—considering all are not cute and
not adopted by rich people-- but still the movie had a heart and social purpose, and was also entertaining, with some terrific songs by
Shankar-Jaikishen, like Chali Kaun Se Des, Nanhe Munne Bachche Teri Mutthi Mein Kya, Lapak Jhapak Tu Aare Badarwa, John Chacha Tum
Kitne Achhe .
Interesting Trivia:
- Movielore has it that Raj Kapoor did not like what Prakash Arora had made and re-shot the film himself. This is the only film credited to Arora.
- The writer of the film Bhanu Pratap is also credited with just one film.
- Boot Polish won the Filmfare awards for best picture, best supporting actor for David and best cinematography for Tara Dutta.
- Raj Kapoor made a tiny appearance in the film as a man asleep in a train.
- It was Baby Naaz's first film, she is reported to have got a special mention at the Cannes Film Festival, but as a grown up her career did not
reach great heights.
- Prakash Arora was also nominated in the Golden Palm category at the Cannes Film Festival for this film
- Ratan Kumar acted as a child star in great films like Do Bigha Zamin and Jagriti but never made it as hero later in life.
- Raj Kapoor produced one more children's film Ab Dilli Dur Nahin in 1957.
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