Boot Polish (1954) - full transcript

How far is it?
- We're almost there

l'm a greater hury than you are.
This is social-service, for you

Cholera has spread in the city.
l must see you off...

and take the first train to Jalgaon

Where is Kamla Devi's house?
- Over there

Kamla Devi!

Kamla Devi...

Sit down, children

She must've gone out to fetch water.
She'll be back soon

l can't wait, children.
l must leave now

Here you are...
give it to the lady



l've written eveything in it.
And don't start cying

Oh yes... do eat something

Who are you children?

''The children's father
was deported last week''

''Their mother died of cholera.
So l leave them with you''

Your aunt will be back soon

Will you have something to eat?

Well? Whose children are you feeding?

They're now your children, Kamla.
- My children?

Look what a sweet child he is

He'll be of great help to you
when he grows up

Treat them like your own, okay?
- Why not?

They're my brother-in-law's kids.
- Well said, Kamla

How come?
- The children are here. That's why



Oh no. l'm happy because his
father has been deported!

l'm happy because his mother
has died of cholera!

What l regret is that she didn't
take them away with herself

Kamla, what are you saying?
- Right too

When my husband died, their father
threw me out to suffer in penuy

And they come to my doorstep today?
This is good indeed

No, Kamla. Don't say that

You must've seen
a nice soul's face today

lt was your face l saw this morning.
- But l'm not a bad man

Oh yes, you're an angel!
A bloody bootlegger!

And you're the goddess
who sells her modesty?

Kamla, don't make me lose my temper.
- Go away!

God has been kind to you, Kamla.
He has given you two little children

Be a good woman and make
good human beings out of them

Not like the folks you and l are.
- They'll see what l make out of them!

Won't you go away?
- l'm going

Listen, Kamla.
Don't you hit them

Get lost, l say!
Don't hit them, he says!

Come on!

Stand here and beg

lf you don't make four annas
by this evening, you've had it

Stretch your palms...
Give me a penny, sir

Give me a penny, sir...
give me a penny

''You'll be robbed,
if you don't give me a penny''

''You'll go to the police station
if a theft takes place...''

''and file a report''

''Why must you do all that?
Just give us a penny''

''Don't give us a penny,
and your grandma will die''

''lf your grandma dies,
you'll do the rites...''

''and feed the Brahmins''

''Why must you do all that?
Just give us a penny''

Brothers and sisters!
We have no support

My brother was born blind.
My father died in the hospital

And my mother, in the war in Burma.
- No

Father died in battle,
mother died in hospital...

Oh yes. Mother died in the hospital
and father died fighting in Burma

My brother is blind.
l was going to blinded too

We have no one. You'll lose
nothing, if you help us

May God bless your children.
- Please give us a penny

Sir... please give me a penny

God will bless you, sir

Give me a penny, sir.
God will bless you, sir

Belu! Come here!

What?

Belu, there's Rai Kapoor

ls that Raj Kapoor?
They're all Raj Kapoors nowadays

l've seen many of their kind

So you can see?

Hello, Chitku.
- Hello indeed

Begging, already?
For pennies?

Shoeshine man.
- Yes, sir

Give me a penny, sir.
God will bless you

l've had nothing to eat, sir.
l'm hungy, sir

Get lost!

Why push a poor boy ?
Give me a penny, and l'll pray for you

2 annas, sir. For my hard work.
And see the first-class polish

''Do not spit''

How much do you have?
- And you?

Berries, 2 for one paisa

Brother, may l buy berries?
- Berries!

l collect money for the polish
and you want to buy berries!

Fresh berries, 2 for one paise

Want to eat berries?

C'mon. Don't cy!

Hey bery-seller!
- Do you have the money?

First let's have a deal.
- You get 2 for a paisa

Let's have 3 for a paise.
- 2, l said. Or go going

Wait... Belu, he won't give us
3 for a paisa

Ask him for four, in that case.
- Don't waste my time

Wait here

Eat one, Bhola.
- You eat. l'm not a kid anymore

Don't put on airs. Eat one.
- You eat it

You'll have to eat one

Ticket-checker! Run!

You still haven't eaten it?
Silly girl! It won't double

We have seven annas
and two paisas today

Let's hide an anna under the tree
and give the rest to aunt

l don't like to beg, Belu

''Give me a penny, sir...
Give me a penny, my Lord''

And eveybody curses us

When we have a rupee and 8 annas...
- What then?

l'll buy two tins of polish,
black and brown, and a brush too

l'll make a rupee evey day.
See how much Chitku makes?

What if aunt gets to know?
- She'll give us a thrashing

That she does evey day.
But how will she get to know?

Know what? Let's keep the stuff
with John Chacha (uncle)

Check how much we have, Belu
- One paise, two paise, four annas...

We've got to give aunt 4 annas, Belu.
- Oh yes, l know

Four annas, five annas...
- Here's 2 annas more

You've messed up my count!
You count it, l can't

Bhola! Here comes Chitku!
Hide the money

Beggars eve_here

Hello, Chitku.
- Hello

Back from begging...?
''Give me a penny, my lord...?''

Can't you find other work?
- In a few days, Chitku...

we're going to stop begging.
We're going to buy polish and a brush

You will see then.
- See what?

Young pissers!
You talk about polishing shoes

lt's a big ask, my boy.
It took me a year to master it

Big deal! Bhola will learn it too.
- Bhola will? As if it were a joke

lt has been our family business...
And he'll learn it in a day?

Where will you get the money
to buy the polish and the brush?

We've collected the money.
- No, we haven't...

Shut up!

What were you doing by the tree?
- Nothing. We were only playing

Playing eh?

Say hello to Kamla on my behalf.
Kamla...! What a beauty

Bhola, l told you not
to talk to him

John Chacha said he's not a nice boy.
- We won't talk to him again

Let's go John Chacha. Come on

Has it sprung something?
- l sure can see a strand or two

Didn't l tell you?
That's the real oil

Get started again

John Chacha!

Run out of polish, John Chacha?
- Polish?

What a shine he has given you!
- Not polish... it's a massage

But your hair, John Chacha...
- l've sprung some, son

Look, Belu. He had two strands
yesterday. They've disappeared today

You use the polish on your head.
And your face sprouts the hair?

Shut up!
- Use bittergourd, uncle

You'll have long hair.
- Get out!

You're bothering me! Go home!
Your aunt will straighten you out!

Watch it... aunt might see us

l'll go in first, Bhola.
- No, l'll go in first

Wait... l'm going in first.
Hold the puppy

So you're here, little witch?
Where's the rascal?

Didn't l tell you to return with
the provisions before noon?

Where are the rations?

Your mother is dead but she
Ieft me with this nuisance!

l accepted you for
the sake of the world,...

or l'd have thrown you in
the gutters. Where are the rations?

The ration card...?

Your father has been deported.
And the two of you have fun here?

Why don't you just die instead?
What do you mean to me anmay?

The ration card!
- What?

What did you say?
- Nothing.

l've just been mumbling
something, aunt

What have you been whispering?
- l'll play a cripple...

and beg henceforth, aunt.
- So?

l said, l'm a cripple,
l'm hungy, l'm blind...

my parents are dead, give me
a penny, my hand is broken...

Did they give you the money?
- No, aunt

You threw away the money?
- No...

that fat man sneezed
and threw all the stuff out

Threw it out? What rubbish!
- No, aunt. He threw me out

No wonder! Worthless children!
You can't even beg properly

Come, l'll teach you

l asked you to play blind
and beat your stomach

''Mister! May you be happy.
Two paisas... give me two paisas''

''Mister, give me two paisa.
l'll buy myself some bread''

''l've been blind all day...
- Blind all day? What rubbish!

No, aunt... l've been blind
for ages... since l was born!

Remember the song l taught you?
Spread your frock

''l spread my frock for alms...
blessings for you, l have''

''l spread my frock for alms...
blessings for you, l have''

Remember now? Do that from tomorrow

And wash the utensils

Where do you think you're going?
And what are we waiting for?

Go and stand in the queue.
- Let me take it first

l must go home, or aunt will beat me.
- Get back there

Get back, boy... back!

How much time for
the rations to be given?

Talk softly. Why're you yelling?
- You talk loudly too

You look like a pick-pocket to me

He asks how many pockets are picked!

Hury up. Can't you see?
It's beginning to rain

Come, boy. You're my first customer.
Let me see your palm

How much money are you carying?
- l've got just 2 paise...

So l'll tell you the future
for 2 paisas worth. Out with it

But sir...
- Out with it son

l've been waiting all day
and nobody turned up

Out with it.
- All right. l'll give it to you

Boy, you aren't going
to study anymore

l haven't studied anything
in the past either

Your two paisas worth is over.
- How about my work...?

Get lost! You want to
know eveything at 2 paisa?

Please, sir... Tell me
something about my work

You'll wear out shoes all your life!
- Is that true?

l'm going to polish shoes?

l've had my money's worth!
My business is taking off

Belu, l'm going to be a big man!
That's what the soothsayer says!

See what...

Belu, you got a lot of
beating today, didn't you?

You take a beating for my sake.
But l'll take it henceforth

Belu, see what l've got for you.
Eat it up

You're back, you worthless boy!
Bloody rascal!

You're sitting here!
- Let go, aunt

l've been starving and
you went disappearing!

Rascal! Scoundrel!
Where is the money?

Don't hit him, aunt!
- Get lost, girl

You just want to run away from work!
So starve to death

You're Satan.
- You're Satan

You sell hooch! Thug!

Don't you have a heart? You beat
the children so mercilessly?

Why don't you take the children
away with you, if you have a heart?

l'd be rid of them!
- l don't have enough to feed them

And the sort of work l do,
l could go to jail any day

l wish, evey innocent child
like them...

l've heard that crap from
paupers already

lf you don't manage to bring
10 annas by tomorrow, just you see

Evey child like them...

Bhola, you took a
Iot of beating today?

Yes, Chacha.
- Never mind

Belu, get up child. Come to me.
Are you hungy?

Yes, Chacha. l feel hungy
evey day

That's the worst disease
our nation suffers from

Come on... get up

Bravo! You must face evey
hardship in life with a smile

Here. Eat

Won't you eat some, Chacha?
- l've already eaten, my dear

You eat. Go on

Bhola, iust give up begging

God has given you two strong hands

Since you're a small boy,
do something small for now

These vey hands will accomplish
something big in the future

There's nothing in the world
that your hands cannot do

Bhola, starve to death,
if you have to...

but never ever beg again.
Don't ever beg, my son

And aunt says we must
beg evey day

John Chacha says we must
never ever beg

What are we to do, Bhola?
- Chacha is right, Belu

Chacha, l take an oath.
l won't beg from tomorrow

Well said, my son.
This is just what l expected from you

l've grown old, you see

l'd surely have helped you.
But you know my ways

You don't know, Bhola.
l've spent a lifetime...

in begging, crime and
other terrible things

l'm a bad man.
But you must be a good man, son

You must become a big man

After l'm dead,
my soul will live in you

ln you lies my new life.
My new life

My new life

Have you eaten, children?
- Oh yes, Chacha. Lots too

Chacha, it's such a dark night.
- Yes, Chacha. It's a black night

Yes children. It sure is
a dark night

See those slums, Bhola?
- Yes, l do

ln them live thousands of poor people,
Ieading lives like animals...

spending another black night of
their lives on dark nights

But this dark night will end
some day. It surely will, some day

l have a strong feeling

And it'll be a new dawn

And the rising sun will
spread gold in their lives

You will grow up. Be well read,
dance and be a happy man

God provides for eveyone...
He provides for eveyone, my children

''After night...''

''comes day''

''This is how a lifetime is spent''

''After night...''

''After night...''

''This long difficult journey
through life...''

''makes one man laugh,
and another man cy''

''With evey step he takes...''

''man moves so far ahead''

''With evey straw...''

''is the nest built''

''After night...''

''There is darkness,
there is light...''

''evey flower that blossoms,
has to wither away''

''From a pla_ul childhood
you step into youth...''

''and old age makes you suffer''

''The wheel of fortune moves on...''

''and that is what
we call destiny''

''After night,
comes the day''

''This is how a lifetime is spent''

''After night...''

''John Chacha...
you're such a nice man''

''Evey child loves you''

''Tell us what to do,
so we don't get a bad name''

''What is destiny, Chacha?''

''Why is one man a beggar and
why is another man rich?''

''Why don't we have any work?''

''To beg for a living
is no good''

''March ahead...''

''you're one in a million.
March ahead, my boy''

''March ahead''

''Never look back,
never be afraid...''

''the earth and the skies
belong to you... just march ahead''

''Reach for the stars''

''You're one in a million, my boy.
Just march on''

''After night...''

''will come a new day''

''After the dark night...''

''will come a new dawn''

Chitku! My money!

John Chacha...
Chitku! My money!

Give me back my money, Chitku!
- Let go!

John Chacha! My money!

What money?

John Chacha!
Chitku's taking away my money!

l'm going to thrash you!
Let go!

Return my money, Chitku...
Else, l'll tell John Chacha

Give me back my money

Let go! Let go, l say!

Chitku! Give me back my money!

Belu, Chitku has taken our money!
How will l buy the polish?

Belu! Our money!

l came to take look at our money
this morning, and saw Chitku around

l quickly took out the money.
l did the right thing, didn't l?

Yes, Belu. You're a vey sweet girl.
Come, let's go and buy the polish

But we're still 2 annas short

May l say something, Bhola?
Let's beg for the last time today

No...
- One last time?

Okay, Belu. Let's go

Give us a penny, sir...
We're starving

Go away

Get lost

Go away... you're begging?

What's the boy saying?
- He seems to be dumb

Give the poor boy an anna.
- An anna?

Yes, an anna. Give it to him

Bhola! Come here!

What is it, Belu?
- We have only a rupee and 4 annas

But we had one rupee and 8 annas.
Let me see

Two and two is four...
- You can't count. Give that to me

Eight annas and four annas
make twelve annas

And another five make it 15 annas.
- 12 and 5 is not 15!

Can you even count properly?
- As if you can!

Two and two and two makes it six.
We're still two annas short

What are we going to do?
- l have an idea, Bhola

First class!
- What idea?

How about going to John Chacha
and getting 2 annas out of him?

That miser will give you 2 annas?
- Let's go, come on

Who is it?
- What are you up to, Chacha?

You won't understand.
- Go ahead and tell us, Chacha

l said you won't understand.
- Still, Chacha...

Oh yes. Still

l'm making a unique oil
- Unique?

Yes, it has fennel-water,
powdered clove...

special grass and other things.
l've got to remember that

Special grass. No other grass will do.
Also goose bery crush...

l'll mix all that and boil it in fat.
And the moment l massage my head...

Your hair will disappear!
- Disappear?

Absolutely. Your hair will vanish.
- How come?

You've forgotten a vey
important ingredient

What?
- The same old thing

What old thing?
- The seed of the bery

The seed of the bery?
- Yes, uncle

That's what old Kamla uses.
And what long hair she has!

Chacha, for just a rupee's seeds,
you get such long hair

So long for 8 annas
and so much for 4 annas worth

And just this much for 2 annas.
How long do you want your hair?

Will my hair grow with bery seed?
- Of course. We'll go and get it

Give us the money

Money? Oh no!

Bery seed will make my hair grow?
- Yes, Chacha

All right. Wait here

Here you are...
- Is that all? Just one paisa?

No, l can't do it

l can't go all the way,
buy the berries, wash them...

it's going to kill me!

Will 3 annas do, Belu?
- Yes, we'll manage

For Chacha's sake...
So give us 3 annas, Chacha

3 annas?
- Yes, Chacha. Out with it.

All right, since you insist.
But l'll grow hair, won't l?

Oh sure, long hair

Not bery-seed, Chacha...
- Use bittergourd instead!

Damn it!

l understand eveything

lf bery-seed could grow hair,
there wouldn't be bald men like me

Bhola, why didn't you buy
the polish from that shop?

lt must've dried up
Iying on those shelves, Belu

We'd have wasted our money.
- All right

Let's make sure we buy nice polish.
- Yes, come on

This is worth 10 rupees 12 annas
and this is 14 rupees and 5 annas

What are you kids up to...?
What do you want?

We need a first class brush
- And polish

Brown.
- And black

But what brush do you want?
- What brush?

A nice shoe-brush.
- l'll get it. Wait here

When we have empty polish tins...

we'll keep them safely.
We won't buy them under the tree

Here's your brush. For 1 rupee,
12 annas, 8 annas and 4 annas

Which one do you want?
l'll get some polish too

This is a nice one, Bhola.
- But that's worth a rupee

No, this is worth 8 annas.
- Here's the polish

6 annas, 8 annas, 10 annas
and 4 annas

Take your pick

He said 3 annas for this.
- And l thought it was worth 4 annas

Have you chosen something?
- One moment, please

You said 7 annas for this, right?
- No, 10 annas for this and 12 for this

No, he said 3 annas for this.
- What a racket you are creating

Your total is 12 annas and 4 annas...
- 14 annas in all

No. 1 rupee and 5 annas.
- Hury up

You owe me 1 rupee and 2 annas.
- Can't you reduce it a bit?

Can't you reduce it a bit?
- Not a penny. Out with the money

Here you are

1 rupee and 2 annas, 12 annas,
8 annas and 4 annas...

the kids have conned me!

Belu, our Hindustan is free today!
We're giving up begging

Long live Mahatma Gandhi.
- Long live Nehru!

Just see how much of money
l make, Belu

You will buy me berries, won't you?
- l'll even buy you a frock

A red frock?
- Yes, vey red

Let's go and tell John Chacha.
- Let's go

What is it, children?

John Chacha, we've brought
something new today

What is it? Show me.
- It's good news

What?
- Close your eyes. Go on

Here l go.
- Let's go in. Come on

Don't watch, Chacha.
- Who's watching

Now open your eyes, Chacha

Well done, children.
- We won't beg from tomorrow

That's vey nice.
This is the way to life, my children

Achieve something,
with these hands of yours

No one's getting anything like this.
Stand in a queue... in one single line

Eveyone will get something. The lady
will herself give away alms today

Not only will you get money,
you'll get some grams too

What's happening out there today?
- Nothing, Chacha

Some for me, lady...

My children are starving

l've been starving for 2 days.
God will bless you, lady

Relax... eveybody will
get something

Patience

You're giving away alms, lady?

You think God will
give you a bountiful...

for the 2 annas you're
handing out today?

What rubbish are you talking?
- She has built four temples

And two sanctuaries for cows.
- She is blessed with a grandson

So she's giving away alms today
- And what rubbish are you talking?

What l'm saying is right, sir

Had it not been for people like you,
these beggars would either have died...

or worked for a living.
Don't give them alms, give them work

ls that my look-out?
- It isn't my look-out, neither yours

ls it the look-out of outsiders then?
Whose look-out is it?

Shut up! You dare talk back?
- You inte_ere in a noble cause?

Get lost!

Old fossil, what nonsense is that?
You don't beg, and you won't let us beg?

That lady came evey fortnight,
but now you've offended her too

We won't even get the 2 annas
we used to get in alms!

This is our source of livelihood

You're snatching the bread
from our children?

No, don't say such things. The children
are stepping into a new world

Don't teach them ways
of begging, please

Where's the new world? We starved
yesterday and we're starving today

Where is the new world?

Let's go before the lady leaves

You won't be able to see the new world.
You'll see it in the eyes of the kids

They see the new world

A new order won't happen on its own...
the children will establish it

You were born beggars
and you will die beggars!

But why must you make
beggars out of the children?

Who hit you, Chacha?

l'll give him a thrashing!
l'll beat him to pulp!

l'll beat him!

Let me go, Chacha

''My little boy...
what do you hold in your fist?''

''ln my fist is my destiny''

''l have my destiny
under my own control''

''What do your innocent eyes see?''

''Our eyes see hope ofio_ul times''

''We dream beautiful dreams
of the times to come''

''My little boy....
what do you hold in your fist?''

''Will you accept a diamond
given to you in alms?''

''What will you do
with the tears life gives you?''

''We won't accept even a diamond
given to us in alms''

''Our tears we shall cherish''

''lt's fun to lead a life
overcoming hardships''

''My little boy....
what do you hold in your fist?''

''Do not hide it from me, children.
Do please tell me...''

''what kind of world are we
going to have in the future?''

''ln the future,
eveybody will be king''

''Neither will the masses go hungy,
nor will grief prevail''

''The times will change...
that's what the stars foretell''

''My little boy....
what do you hold in your fist?''

''ln my fist is my destiny''

''l have my destiny
under my own control''

Well done, children

Don't ever open the fist to beg

Whatever happens, don't ever beg

Don't

So you're the one who doesn't
Iet them beg?

Bhola, go on...
go and get the money

Are you going, or aren't you?

So you are instigating them?
l'll see how they won't go

Don't you hit them!
- Shut up, lame duck

The hooch ruined your leg.
But you won't see sense

l'll see how you brainwash them.
Come on

Well, Chacha...?
No booze today?

Enough of bittergourd, eh?
- Don't inte_ere, Chitku

And stop seeing Kamla,
or you'll go to prison

My foot!

Wastrels! The two of you
are bent on killing me!

What are you waiting for?
Cook some rice

lf l see you with that old fossil ever
again, l'm going to break your legs!

lf you don't bring 10 annas by tomorrow
evening, don't even come here again

Get that? You will bring the money?

Why don't you speak?
- l'll get the money, aunt

l surely will

We've got to make 10 annas today.
- Else, aunt will beat us

Hello, Chitku.
- Hello

So you've stopped begging
and gone into business?

Yes, Chitku.
- Your aunt knows what you're up to?

No, Chitku. Please don't tell aunt...
- Don't tell her, big deal

That'll cost you 4 annas evey day.
- Not 4 annas, Chitku

We'll give you an anna.
- Shut up

l want 4 annas evey evening, okay?
Else, l'll fix you

Polish, sir?

Polish, memsaab?

Munna! l've found him!

Where's the brown polish?
- Use the black one, but hury up

Give that to me

Hury, the train's about to arrive.
- We're almost through, sir

The train has arrived!
- One moment, sir

The train has arrived!
Hury up

The train has arrived!
My shoes!

Money, sir...

l'll give you anna each.
Do a good job, okay?

What have you done?

lt's terribly hot in Bombay.
- We're through, sir

Through? Give them both
an anna each

They've ruined my socks
and pajama!

Ask me to have my shoes
polished again

They can't even wash their faces
and they're out to polish shoes!

Where are they...? Get them

We'll have to be careful, Bhola.
Or we'll have to close shop

Absolutely

We'll give your shoes a shine, sir.
- All right, go ahead

Take off your shoes, sir.
- Hury up

Who's the insolent?

ls this your shoe?
Aren't you ashamed?

What's happening here?
- The rascal

What have you done?
- What am l to do?

l can't polish shoes.
- Whoever asked you to?

You'll know when someone
gives you thrashing

l'll be careful henceforth, Belu.
Let's go, come on

Boy, come here.
- Polish, sir?

Do you have polish for these shoes?
- Yes, sir. Black or brown?

Where's your feet-rest?
- Fee-fee? Right here, sir

We'll run it on your shoes, sir.

A feet-rest!
- Keep your foot on my thigh, sir

Put some

lt's a canvas shoe and we've
applied polish on it!

Quiet

What have you done, boy?
You've ruined my shoe!

Forgive me, sir...
- Forgive me?

Don't you know what it is
to polish a shoe?

Don't you know?

Bhola! You're cying?

l can't polish shoes... l won't!
l can't do it

How can you throw away
your things like this Bhola?

You'll learn it, Bhola.
Eveybody learns, so will we gradually

Don't cy, Bhola.
Listen, let's go to John Chacha

He'll show us how to polish shoes

Don't cy, Bhola.
Don't cy

Come on. Come

Come Bhola, Belu...

l'll teach you an
English song today

You'll sing with me, won't you?

What happened, Belu?
What happened...?

He hit him.
- Hit him?

He hit Bhola.
- Which rascal hit him?

We ruined his trousers, Chacha.
- Ruined his trousers?

He was wearing canvas shoes and
we applied brown polish on it

You went and applied brown polish
on canvas shoes...?

Chacha, l don't know
how to polish shoes

l won't polish shoes, Chacha.
l can't do it

No, my son.
You must never lose courage

Eveybody finds a new business
to be difficult initially

You'll learn it. You surely will.
Look at me

l couldn't play the instrument.
But l worked hard and now l play it

l'll show you how
to polish shoes

A nice way too...
like they massage my head

Suppose this is a foot-path
with people and cars passing by

And along comes a gentleman.
How will you approach him?

First-class polish...
absolutely super

And who else comes along?
A Hindu priest

Say, ''Namaskar, priest. l'll give
your shoes a great Indian polish''

But remember to spare his socks.
Also keep out the trousers and dhotis

A great polish!

For black shoes...?
- The black polish

For brown shoes?
- The brown polish

And canvas shoes...
- We don't want it!

Well said! Now go ahead and
get on with it, okay?

''Wait a while before you go away...''

''listen gentlemen,
black and white...''

''We've been waiting for a long time.
We, the shoe-shine boys''

''Wait a while before you go away...''

''listen gentlemen,
black and white...''

''We've been waiting for a long time.
We, the shoe-shine boys''

''One anna for the black polish''

''One anna for the brown polish''

''One anna for a massage
of the shoes''

''Pay an anna, and you'll
have eveything''

''We have no riches, we wear no
grand turbans nor gold bangles''

''Ours is a small business...
we're the gay shoe-shine children''

''Wait a while before you go away...''

''listen gentlemen,
black and white...''

''We've been waiting for a long time.
We, the shoe-shine boys''

''Sweet is the fruit
of hard work''

''Vey true''

''Left-overs and crumbs...''

''we don't want any''

''Bread earned out of hard work...''

''is welcome''

''And goodies that come for free...''

''we don't want''

''Shame on those who
gorge on ill-gotten food''

''We're hardworking
shoe-shine children''

''Wait a while before you go away...''

''listen gentlemen,
black and white...''

''We've been waiting for a long time.
We, the shoe-shine boys''

''The priest does the rituals;
he makes you get the holy bath''

''We work for a living...''

''we give your shoes a shine''

''The priest asks for a lot''

''We ask for iust an anna''

''What discrimination then...?
- When eveybody loves the money''

''We don't understand the difference...
we're the shoe-shine guys''

''Wait a while before you go away...''

''listen gentlemen,
black and white...''

''We've been waiting for a long time.
We, the shoe-shine boys''

Red and white...?
What a sight!

Black eyes, long hair and a
Iovely red flush on the cheeks

What beauty!
Like a newly polished sandal

Get lost!

l say, what are Bhola and Belu up to
behind your back?

What are they up to?
- He's pulling wool over your eyes

You're applying kohl and they've
even stopped begging nowadays

You're back...?
Where were you all this while?

And Chitku says, behind my back...
- Behind your lovely back!

What are you hiding from me?
- It's nothing, aunt

l've made 10 annas today.
- 10 annas! How come?

Show me.
- Ten annas, l say...

l'm giving you an anna.
- l want 4 annas!

All right!

So what were you saying, Chitku?
- Nothing

l've found a room for you.
- Really?

You must beg like this
evey day, Bhola

Bring 10 annas tomorrow also.
- l'll be late tomorrow, okay?

l say come back before sunset, love

Out with the four paise

Coming!

l hid four annas in this, Bhola.
Know what we'll do with it?

What will we do if Chitku tells aunt
about our new business?

We'll deal with it, when it happens.
We'll buy a new shirt for you

This one's in tatters.
- No. Your frock comes first, Belu

No, your shirt comes first.
This frock will last many more days

Let's not argue... Iet's go to
John Chacha, he'll settle it for us

What is the matter, children?
- Keep this brush and polish, Chacha

Or aunt...
- She wants you to beg forever

But we've stopped begging, Chacha.
- Yes, Chacha

Really? And l didn't even get to know
that you've stopped begging

Here, have some grams

Decide something for us, Uncle.
Isn't he wearing a torn shirt?

lsn't it a torn one?
- Yes

So l asked him to buy a new shirt

He can buy it with the money
we've made out of shining shoes

But he just won't agree!
- Why not?

l told her Chacha, that my shirt
will last many more days

Her frock is torn. So let's
buy a new frock for her

But she won't agree.
- l said you're buying a new shirt!

So how can you inte_ere?
- Big deal!

We're buying you a new red frock.
- No way!

Once l say something, it's final.
l don't want anymore arguments!

What are you fighting for?

You buy a shirt.
And you buy a frock. That's all

All we have is four annas, Chacha

We can only buy a shirt for Bhola.
Isn't it?

Four annas?
It can do nothing for anyone

Why? Does a shirt cost
more money, Chacha?

Yes, dear. It costs a lot.
It costs 3 or 4 rupees

For you, l would...

Do you have any hooch, Chacha?
- What?

We were coming here Chacha, and there
was this man in the street...

Not man. He looked like a ghost!
- Ghost?

He said...
- Get me a bottle of hooch

He promised us 5 rupees.
- l said l didn't know

What is hooch, Chacha?
- Hooch?

How'd l know what it is?

Which street was this chap in, Bhola?

He was...
- Near the palm tree. He doesn't know

Must've been someone. What have
l to do with a drunkard?

You kids run along now
and go to sleep

Chacha, just mind our
brush and polish

Won't you play the instrument?
- Sure, l will. Go on now. Go

l'll buy the children
a frock and a shirt

For Bhola and Belu.
l won't do it ever again, Lord

Here's it is...
memorable stuff

Belu, wake up...
the police have arrested John Chacha

The police have arrested him?
- Yes. Come on

This was the boy who
told you, isn't he?

No, Inspector. There's no one with me.
Quickly take me to the police station

Let John Chacha go, Constable.
Or l'll complain to my aunt!

Take them away too!
- No, Constable

These poor kids work hard
to earn living

They gave me no information.
Please take me along

All right. Let them go

Why do the police arrest you?
- Because l'm a bad man

l've committed a crime

But you must never do
something like this

Life is full of hardships,
but you ought to be brave

Belu... you're cying?
What for?

l'll be back soon. Vey soon.
- What has John Chacha done, constable?

He's into bootlegging.
- He won't do it again

Am l right, Chacha?
- l'll never do it, my child. Never

Take him away.
- One moment

Give me a smile and tell me how
my bald pate will sprout hair

Give me a smile... go on.
- The bittergourd...

Come on, it's late already

Hey! Pedro!

John!

How come you're here?
- The old business

Hooch?

l told you not to do such things.
- This is the last time, Pedro

Never again.
- Never? Come

Meet the brothers...
- Who is he?

He's a vey big man.
Sit down there. Go on

Lala Chhoturam. A 4-month term.

He's here for six months

That's Pestonji...
on an eight-month term

Maganbhai, he's here for 1 7 months.
- 1 7 months? Pleased to meet you

And me...!
- Chimanji! 15 days

ls that all?
- A month actually

All right. Go away.

Meet Professor Lobolo.
- What professor?

Of the brains.
- How come he's here?

He developed something
that would grow hair

He conned 300 men.
For the fraud, he was given 3 years

3 years? Wow, Professor!
l'm delighted to meet you

Please sit down

Professor, l'm vey fond
of that oil you discovered

Have you hit upon any new formula?
- l have an entirely new concept

What?

lt has a bit of philosophy too.
- What's philosophy?

lt has to do with the brains

lt's a bit complicated.
- Tell us about it, Professor

Maybe we'll understand something

The only conclusion of eveything
is the cloud and hair

Cloud and hair?

We don't get it, Professor.
- Clouds are dark, so is hair

lnvoke the clouds...
maybe you'll even grow hair

What a silly philosophy.
- Not at all

l get what you're saying.
l sure do. Come here and sit down

Clouds mean water
and the other thing is hair

The hair will grow when
the clouds pour, right?

Right!
- But how will it pour water?

That's the beauty of the whole thing!
Come and sit down

lt has to do with practice,
with preparation

Have you heard of Tansen?
- Oh yes!

He caused rainfall, did you know?
- Yes

Now listen

''Pounce on it''

''Come hither, O rains...''

''the fields, our bald pates,
are parched''

''So pour on us''

''Bring water...''

''strike lightning''

''lf you have no rains...''

''fetch some from the river-banks''

''The nightingale sings
in the forests...''

''evey heart craves''

''Give us a bountiful of hair''

''Come pouring quickly''

''Come pouring''

''Come pouring''

''Pour...''

Step away!

This is amazing!
- What happened?

l made a mistake, Pedro!

l have invoked a storm. What will
happen to Bhola and Belu?

What happens of the
poor in the slums?

Give it to me, Belu.

Don't fall, Bhola.
l'm terribly scared

Don't be afraid, Belu. l'm all right.
Give that to me

Bhola, l'm feeling vey cold

Why must it rain so heavily?

Mind the kid, lady...
He's getting drenched

Why don't we have a mother?
When will she come?

Mother? She'll come...

with the new dawn...
when it's bright outside

Our mother will come then.
She surely will

Mother will come when it's dawn?
Will she...? Mother...

Mother!

Good morning

Have a cup of tea.

lt rained heavily last night.
- So much more happened too

John Chacha's gone to jail.
- A good thing too

The government must never set him
free. He's a vey dangerous man

Not as dangerous as you are.
- Here you are

At least pay for the tea.
- Pay for it?

Are you selling tea now?
- You could say that

My business is all over.
- Why?

Those serpents in your house...
- What?

Nothing.
- Tell me

Bhola and Belu are into shoe-shining
nowadays. They don't beg

l see! They must've hidden
money from me

Nobody would give them even 2 annas
in the monsoons. Look at my state

When they begged, they made
at least a rupee or two annas

But now, they won't even
bring 10 annas a day

They think they can live off me!

l'll throw them out, even if
that's the last thing l ever do!

You're too much...
oh, what a beauty

Mother...

Bloody wretch! You swallowed your
mother, the day you were born!

Where's the brush and the polish?
Chitku has told me eveything

l earn money for a livelihood
and you act smart with me?

Get the hell out of here!

Don't come back here,
if you don't have the money!

Bhola, l'm feeling a chill

Belu! You have a fever!

Aunt! Open the door...
Belu's running a fever!

Bhola! Where will we sleep?
What will we get to eat?

Belu, don't be afraid

John Chacha asked us to be brave.
Remember?

Come, Belu. l'll get to work

Here you are.
- Is it okay?

Come

Polish, sir?
- Get lost! What polish in the rains?

Please give me a cup of tea.
- Do you have the money?

l don't have any money.
- So get lost

l'll do a great polish, sir...

How can l have my shoes
polished in the rains?

l'll miss my train.
Don't be a pest

Polish, sir?

Who gets his shoes polished
in the rains?

Here's what l'm wearing.
Get going

Bhola, l'm terribly hungy

l feel as if l'll die
out of hunger

Your fever has increased, Belu.
What am l to do...?

What am l to do, God?
- l'm going to die, Bhola

You'll be happy then?
- No, you mustn't say such things

Sit down here. l'll find someone
who'll have his shoes polished. Sit

Polish, sir?

l'll do a nice polish, sir...

a polish in iust 2 paise, sir

Sir, l'll do a vey nice polish!
Give me just 2 paisas, sir!

Does anyone have his shoes
polished in the rains?

Your polish will get washed away.
What's the use?

Why don't you do something else?
- l'll give you a nice polish, sir

A vey nice polish, in just 2 paisa...
- What a mad boy

Why must l have my shoes polished?
You want money, no? Here you are

No, sir... l can't take this money.
l want work!

l'll give you a polish, sir...
- Take it, son

l'm hungy!
- You're begging!

l'm terribly hungy.
l'm vey hungy

Hungy? You'd rather die!

Bhola, l'm vey hungy!

Look, Bhola...
there are so many shoes out there

Yes, Belu. When it stops pouring,
l'll polish all those shoes

And l'll bring hot tea for you.
Steaming hot

l'll also bring bread...
you will eat it, won't you?

Polish, sir? l'll do a nice job, sir.
- Go away

Who gets his shoes polished
in the rains?

Polish, sir? l'll do a nice iob

Come, let's go to Buribunder.
l'll surely find work there

Polish, sir?
- Go away

lt's over, sir. l'm through.
- Who asked you to polish the shoes?

l've done a nice job, sir.
Please give me an anna?

Get lost!

Boy... take this
- Thank you, sir.

Belu, get up. l'll buy something
for you to eat

Money?
- Look

Bhola, what are you doing here?

Out to polish shoes
on a day like this?

lt's so crowded during the rains...

even if you cut a throat,
nobody gets to know

My word!

lf only you had bought a scissor
instead of brush and polish...

it would end your miseries.
See you then

l'm vey hungy, Bholu.
- Sit here, Belu

l'll go and get something for you.

l'll be back in a minute

A cup of tea and bread for me.
- Here you are

My wallet! Someone
has picked my pocket!

Run away, Bhola!
Look, the police!

Over there!

Don't let the boy get away!

After him!

Belu! Get up and run!
It's the police!

Run, Belu!

Constable, Belu's in there.
- There's no Belu here!

Please open the gate...
my sister's in there!

Get lost!

You love children, don't you?

And look at our luck.
After seven years of marriage...

Which l why l ask you...
- To mary again?

Silly woman

You're not hurt, are you?

l'm hungy...
please call Bhola

l'm hungy.
- The poor girl's burning with fever

Who are you?
- She seems to be an orphan

She must be hungy.
- Give the poor girl some money

She'll buy something to eat.
- All right

Take this, dear.
- No

l don't want alms.
Bhola will be angy

Please call Bhola...
- Bhola, who?

Bhola... l'm hungy, Bhola...

The poor girl has fainted
out of fever

The police have left, Belu!

l'll buy berries for you, Belu.
And a red frock too

Where have you gone away, Belu?
Where will l look for you?

How's she now?
- The fever has subsided

But she's still delirious...
and she seems to be vey frightened

No, Bhola... no

Mother...

Mother...

Mother will come...
when a new day dawns

You? Haven't you left?

l've lost my sister...
have you seen her?

What sister?
- Belu. My sister is lost

She must be in there. Let me see...
- Go away, get lost

Baba, have you seen Belu around?
- No son

Why're you yelling?
Don't you care for my health?

Has Belu returned?
- No, damn you

Have you brought the money?

Don't hit me, aunt...
Belu has gone missing

l'm glad l'm rid of her!
Why don't you die too?

Worthless boy! Go away!

lf you don't get the money,
don't ever come back here

Aunt!

Don't let Belu go anmhere,
if she returns

l'll die without her, aunt.
Don't let her go anmhere

''What land are you headed for
in those fineries, my girl?''

''l go to the land of my beloved
in these fineries''

''What land are you headed for
in those fineries, my girl?''

''Tears flow from
your parents eyes''

''Friends from your childhood
cy at the separation''

''Your brother calls out for you...''

''don't leave your house''

''l go to my beloved's land
in these fineries''

''What land are you headed for
in those fineries, my girl?''

''My beloved's land is oh so far away''

''l belong to him
and he's my beloved''

''l was tied in love...''

''after a lot of thought''

''l go to the land of my beloved
in these fineries''

''What land are you headed for
in those fineries, my girl?''

You will live with us, won't you?
We'll give you a lot of love

You're wearing a nice frock

What is your name?
You still haven't told us

Tell us your name... Go on

You will stay with us, won't you?
- l'm going back to Bhola

Bhola? Who's that, dear?
- Bhola... my brother

So you have a brother too?
- Oh yes

How can we keep her with us Lata?
It's against the law

And we don't even know whether
she has her parents or not

l have a feeling
that she has no one

Where do you live, dear?
- Over there... with Bhola

The car has returned
from the garage, sir

Go and fetch my coat

Let's go and find out
about her today

ls it okay if you went to
the office a bit late today?

You will take us to your house,
won't you?

All right. Get ready

Come, dear.
- Get the car out, Shyamu

We're going to Bhola, aren't we?
- Yes, we're going to Bhola

Come...

Watch it, dear

Run! It's the ticket-checker!

Come on

Wait there... what have
you gotten me into?

Wait there, dear...
watch your step

Watch your step

Aunt! Open the door!
- So you're back screaming!

l've brought sweets for Bhola, aunt.
For you too

What airs have you put on
in a single night?

ls she your child?
- No! She's an orphan

She used to live with me...
has she committed a theft?

No, we're the ones who committed
a theft ... by keeping her with us

We wish to keep her with us

We wish to adopt her.
- Will you give her away to us?

Why not? But l've brought her up.
l've faced so many hardships...

you know, it really hurts me
to give her away to you

Do you want to adopt another child?

No, we want just her...
Iet's go, dear

Take Bhola along too!
- All right, we'll take him along too

Where is Bhola?
- That was her brother

He died a few days ago
and she weeps for him

He's dead?

Let's go, dear.
- No, l won't go without Bhola

l want to go to Bhola...
- Bhola will be coming, dear. C'mon

So go away!
- You don't have to yell at her

Let's go...
- l want to go to Bhola!

Lord, my wish has been fulfilled

With Your grace,
l now have a daughter

Thanks a million, Lord

Belu has gone missing, Lord.
If l find her...

l'll offer You a day's
shoe-shine earning

l won't forget Your favour
all my life, Lord

You take some too, son

May your folks die! Why couldn't
you tell us a day in advance?

A day? We told you six months ago
to clear these slums

Clear the slums and take them where?
Place them on your head?

Move to Marine Drive, lady

Oh yes, your father owns the place.
Doesn't he?

l say, there's a room available
in Sadhuram's tenement

l'm saying it for your own good

There's a room in Sadhuram's tenement.
Do you hear that?

l could show it to you.
- Where?

Out there, Kamla. You can have
a great gathering there

Why would l take a whole room for
myself? Especially without Kamla

So what do you think?
- What's the rent?

Why bother about rent? Sadhuram
won't fleece you, will he?

lt's just 5 rupees.
- But l'm not giving you any space

Aunt... has Belu returned?
Has my Belu returned, aunt?

So you're back?
- No, aunt

l only came to ask if Belu was back

Where do you think you're going?

lt's because of you that
l've got to leave this place

Pick up all that stuff!

Pick it up... you'll find
a lot of shoes to polish there

Die! Don't you get to eat?

You're not hurt, are you?
- No

''About my heart l spoke...''

''all night''

''Separated from you,
l couldn't go to sleep...''

''all night''

''l'm the mischievous Queen
of Spring''

''The world is crazy about me''

''l'm the mischievous Queen
of Spring''

''The world is crazy about me''

''l plunder hearts
with my piercing eye...''

''l kick up a storm
evey lane l pass through''

''l'm adept at weaving tales''

''The world is crazy about me''

''l'm the mischievous Queen
of Spring''

''My charm is unique''

''lt sates your love...
and empties your pockets''

''To give away the heart
is to court sorrow''

''The world is crazy about me''

''l'm the mischievous Queen
of Spring''

''Let people die,
for all l care...''

''l'll continue my mery-making''

''l've got to make
my own world...''

''The world is crazy about me''

''l'm the mischievous Queen
of Spring''

She's now your mother and
this is your father, dear

This is your house

Get lost!
- What happened?

What else? He keeps loafing about the
whole day, and gives me just 4 annas...

expecting me to give him two meals
and a roof over his head

l ask him to beg, he'll make more
money. But he wants to shine shoes!

Dog! Get lost!
And don't you come back!

You're dead, for all l care.
Understand?

Belu, where are you going?

Where were you going?
Where, tell me?

To Bhola.
- To Bhola?

Come, l'll take you to Bhola.
- No, l want to go to Bhola

Why hasn't he come?
l want to go back to him

Of course, dear. l'll take you
to Bhola right now. At once

Lata, how long will we hide the truth?
We'll have to tell her some day

My child... don't you
like this place at all?

Don't you like it here at all?
- l'm going back to Bhola...

Don't you love this mother?

Mother!

You won't even let me sleep in peace.
You're always a nuisance, John Chacha

Nuisance? Why don't you say l'm
killing the mosquitoes in the jail?

Killing them, my foot!
l've been in this cell for 5 years

5 years! l've spent 25 years here
in terms of 2 and 4 months. Know that?

You're a 5-year old kid
and l'm young man of 25

Who's that? Come on in

What's happening, John?
- Not much, constable

This has to do with my honour.
This 5-year old kid...

is insulting a young man of 25.
- Go away. You've been let off

Let off?
- Yes

l had a nice time,
but l'm not coming back again

Really? So the jail has
reformed you at last

lt isn't the jail, constable.
It's the love of those children

But you won't understand.
- Go on

John Chacha? You've eaten enough
bittergourd here, haven't you?

So you're here? l told you
to stop seeing Kamla

Should l have seen you
instead, Chacha?

l'd still have had to come here.
- What's his crime, sir?

lf there was one, l'd tell. Move it!
- One moment

Chitku, how are Bhola and Belu?
- Eveything there is ruined, Chacha

The lady sold Bhola and Belu
to a rich man

Sold them?
- Yes. For only a hundred rupees

You know Sadhuram who owns
the tenement?

He's an acquaintance of his.
Ask him, he'll tell you eveything

Move it. It's late already

What are you looking at my face for?
Polish my shoes quickly

l've got to go to the movies.
Are you through?

How much is that?
- 2 annas, sir

2 annas...?
Taxi, wait here

The cab's going away...
here's the two annas

Hey cabbie! Wait for me

To Regal Cinema, driver.
And make it quick

Mister...
- What is it?

Come here, son

You're such a nice boy

Here you are.
- No thank you

Take it. Buy yourself some sweets.
Let's go

Hey mister...

A red frock

What do you want?
- l want that red frock, sir

Do you have the money?
- Yes, sir. Here it is

Not 2 rupees.
That frock is worth 5 rupees

Sweet berries

What is it? Get lost

l want those berries.
- How much?

Give me the whole lot.
- The whole lot? Are you mad?

lt's worth 2 rupees.
- Here you are

All right, here you are...
take away the basket too

How much for the berries?
- 4 for an anna

Here you are

Sweet berries...

How much for the berries?
- 4 for an anna, sir

Give me eight annas worth

Belu, where have you gone away?

Write, my child

''A'' ... as in aam (mango)

And ''B'' as in basta (bag).
- Not bag... berries

So you like berries?
- l love them

l don't like chocolates

Papa brings chocolates evey day.
Why doesn't he bring berries?

He'll bring berries too, my child.
He forgets, you see

l'll ask him to bring berries
for my Belu evey day

A lot of berries. Okay?
Write now

Write dear... what are you
thinking about?

''A'' as in ''Aam''...
''B'' as in berries

and ''C''...
- Chacha! John Chacha!

Renu! Where are you going?

My Belu is missing; she's said
to be staying somewhere here

Has anyone of you seen her?
- No

l searched eve_here for her,
but l couldn't find her

Please tell me if you get to know.
She's just like you

Where were you, John Chacha?
l looked so much for you!

Bhola wasn't around, nor were you.
Where did you go away, Chacha?

Where had you disappeared, Belu?
And these clothes...

you look like a princess.
- l live right here, Chacha. Come on

You live here?
- Come on

Come on in Chacha.
You'd like to see my house, no?

Certainly. Why not?
- Come on

Look, Chacha...
isn't it beautiful?

Mother... come...

Mother, this is John Chacha.
We used to live with him

He's a wonde_ul person, Mother

What's that greeting, Chacha?
Say namaste to her

So you are the folks who have...?
- Yes. We have adopted her

You've done a vey nice thing...
a vey noble gesture indeed

Please come in

Yes, Chacha. Come on in... come!

Come, Chacha...

l'll show you beautiful toys...
l have so many toys!

l have so many lovely frocks...
all of them are red!

Come, Chacha

And look, Chacha.
l've even started studying

''A'' as in ''aam''.
''B'' as in berries...

And ''C'' as in...
- Chacha!

Come Chacha. Sit down

Please sit there...
- No thank you

This is my place, you know.
- l'm sitting with you too

Want me to show you the frocks?
- Oh yes

And the dolls too?
- Oh certainly

Where do you live?

The whole of Bombay
is now my house

l used to be their neighbour.
These children... l loved them

But where is Bhola?
- See, Chacha!

Lovely frocks...
these dolls!

Belu, fetch something for
for your Chacha to eat

At once!

Please don't talk about Bhola
in Belu's presence

She weeps so much whenever
she's reminded of him

Why? What happened to Bhola?
- Look Chacha! Nice bread...

What's that? Bring some sweets,
fruits and tea for him

Tell Shyamu. He'll bring it.
- Would you like sweets, Chacha?

What happened to Bhola?
- Don't you know?

Bhola is dead.
- Bhola is dead? No...

lmpossible! Who told you?

We were told by that woman
from whom we adopted Belu

So Kamla told you...?
The liar! The devil!

lf Kamla says Bhola is dead,
it means he's certainly alive

l'll surely find Bhola.
l'll find him

lf only we could find Bhola...
- Look at the goodies, Chacha

l'm feeding Chacha with my own hands!
Eat, Chacha

l'll come again tomorrow, Belu.
You like berries, don't you?

l'll bring berries for you, okay?
- Okay

Renu, l've brought berries
for you dear. You...?

This is Mr John;
he used to be Renu's neighbour

No! He's John Chacha!
- l'm vey happy to have met you

John Chacha is a vey nice man, Papa.
- Certainly, dear. Please sit down

Sit down, Chacha. Please sit down.
- l must go now, dear

Where will you go, Chacha?
l'm not letting you go away!

l'll come again tomorrow

But we're leaving tomorrow

You're leaving tomorrow?

Yes. We're going out of town
for a couple of months

lt'll be a nice change for Renu...

and we want her to forget
about her past life

She must grow up to be a decent,
respectable and educated girl

That has been my desire too

That these children study
and grow up to be good citizens

l'm a vey happy man today

So l must leave now, Belu dear

Where are you going, Chacha?
l'm not letting you go!

Bhola's not here either...
l'm not letting you go!

l'll come again...

This is now your house, my child

She's your Mama.
And he's your Papa

You will find eveything here

And l have nothing
to give you, my child

l'll surely come to see you.
l surely will...

Belu's going to study
and grow up...

and l'll surely come to see Belu!
- Chacha, don't go away!

You won't be here...
nor will Bhola!

May you be happy, Belu

But l'll surely bring Bhola

Buy me some berries, Papa.
- How much for the berries?

2 for a paisa, sir.
- Give me an anna's worth

''Bhola sells it,
and Belu eats it...''

''berries, eveybody relishes''

Sweet berries...

Wait!

Give those berries! They're Belu's!
- Belu, who?

My sister, sir. What will l tell her
when she comes asking, sir?

Shut up and come on

Hello, John Chacha.
When did you return?

Have you seen Bhola around?
- No, l haven't

What is your name?
- Bhola

Where do you live?
- Nowhere

Don't you have a house?
And parents?

Parents...?
- So you have no one

l had a sister, sir.
But she has gone missing too

Don't cy. We'll send you
to an orphanage

Take him to Mr Sharma's orphanage.
- Come on

Your name...
- Let them go, constable

But listen... don't get into
business without a licence again

This is now your house, my son.
We are your parents

You'll have eveything here

Please let me go, sir...
l haven't done anything

So why did the police bring you here?
- l was selling berries, sir

l thought my Belu would come
to buy the berries

She loves berries, sir.
- Belu? Who's that?

My younger sister.
We were into shoe-shining

She went missing one day.
l looked eve_here...

but l don't know where she is
and how she's managing

You haven't packed your bag, Belu?
Hury up, dear. Or we'll get late

l'm not going, Mother.
l don't feel like it

You'll like it vey much, my child

We'll teach you pony-riding,
take you sailing in a boat...

there'll be so many nice children
to play with you

You will come, won't you?

Aren't you ready yet, Lata?
It's so late

lt's already eleven and Seth Rai singh
must be waiting for us

What's wrong with her?
- Renu says she's not going

Why not? We're going out
only for her

l'm not going. If l go away,
there will be no one here

What if Bhola comes calling?

l told you that unless we took her away
she'd be reminded of all the old things

How long will we hide it from her?
Why don't you tell her the truth?

Renu, my child...
Bhola won't come anymore

Of course not!
He'll surely come

No... how will l explain to you?
He's not coming anymore

He'll never come again

''We're your own...
from you, we seek mercy''

''We're your own children...
from you, we seek mercy''

''We pray for your loved ones''

''We pray for your loved ones''

''ln a world of orphans,
perpetually plunged in darkness...''

''not once did we see a dawn''

''On an evening like this,
for that thing which burns...''

''we seek a lamp of hope''

''We pray for your loved ones''

''The ones whose lives we lit up...''

''have left us alone
in this world''

''May no one ever suffer a fate
like ours''

''We seek solace for
evey troubled heart''

''We pray for your loved ones''

''Give us the piece of bread
you may not have eaten''

''The clothes you have discarded...
give them to us''

''We're your own children...
we seek mercy from you''

''We pray for your loved ones''

Sir...
- What?

l want a job, sir.
- Get going

l'll wash your utensils, sir...
- Go away, l say

He wants a job, he says,
and he was eyeing the goodies

May l cary it for you, sir?
- Can you?

Why not, sir? l sure will.
- Go ahead then

Eat something before you
cary things. Go away

l told you, you can't cary it!
... pick it up

Manglu, have you packed eveything?
You haven't locked this

Take it downstairs. Hury

Renu, what are you doing my child?
Hury up, dear

The train leaves at ten

''Yes, we're going away
for a couple of months''

''lt'll be a nice change for Renu...''

''and we want Renu to forget
her past life''

''We want her to grown up to be a
decent, respectable and educated girl''

My daughter's leaving today...?
Belu's leaving?

l will go over to meet her...
l'll surely meet her

Hey brother, why are you cying?
- Who are you?

God snatched my mother from me
and the Government snatched my father

Yet someone snatched Belu from me and
someone else snatched by berries

What else will l do, if not cy?
- What do you do for a living?

l'm doing nothing at the moment.
l used to be a shoe-shine boy

But l don't even have the money
for that now

Can you give me some work?
- Will you go with us?

We beg for a living.
- And we make lots of money

Will you join us?
- Beg...?

No. l will not beg
- Will you starve to death, if not beg?

Beg till you have the money to buy
the polish. Give it up later

No, l will not beg

No, l will not beg!
- Will you starve to death then?

Beg till you have money to buy
the polish. Give it up later

No, l will not beg

l'll starve to death...
but l won't ever beg!

l won't beg! No... never!

l'm e_remely hungy

John Chacha, l'm feeling uneasy...
l'm starved

Beg till you have money to buy
the polish. Give it up later

No!

''Give me a penny, sir...''

Sir... l wasn't beg...

Sir... a penny sir!

One penny, sir. Please...
- Get lost!

A penny, sir... l haven't
eaten in two days

Sir... one penny.
l'm vey hungy...

Sir, a penny...
- Go away!

Bhola...? You?

You're begging?
Why don't you die instead?

No... no!

John Chacha! Bhola's going away!
Stop him!

Bhola, wait there...! Wait!

Wait, Bhola... wait!

Wait!

My son! Where have you been?
Where?

Where had you gone away, Belu?
John Chacha, l've found Belu!

''There will be a new dawn''

''And the Sun will
fill their lives with gold''

''You will grow up to be educated,
sing and dance and be happy''

''He looks after eveyone...
eveyone''

''Never look back,
never be afraid...''

''the earth and the skies
belong to you... just march ahead''

''Reach for the stars''

''You're one in millions, my children.
Just march on''

''After night...''

''A new dawn''