Le petit cireur

This film ranks as one of the finest thought provoking social dramas asking how we look at ourselves given the limited resources and choices and faced with overwhelming odds. Raj Kapoor's presentation of the humble lifestyle of two children who wish to overcome the obstacles of abject poverty shows the importance of the spirit of endurance and dedication in the face of adversity. We can learn from children when they try to face challenges in the world created by greedy souls.

I would recommend this film as a lesson in the triumph of the human spirit when facing the evils of man made adversity. We probably can relate to the two youn protaganists of the film in our everyday lives. Life can be a bitch, and films such as BOOT POLISH show the more dramatic encounters of what we call the human struggle.

Boot Polish" is a classic Indian film released in 1954, directed by Prakash Arora and produced by Raj Kapoor. It is a heartwarming tale that showcases the struggles of two young siblings and their journey towards survival and self-reliance. Set in the backdrop of post-independence India, the film tackles the themes of poverty, social inequality, and the importance of perseverance.

The story revolves around two siblings, Bhola and Belu, who are left orphaned and forced to live on the streets of Mumbai. They are desperately poor and resort to begging for a living. One day, they come across a bootlegger, John Chacha, who gives them the opportunity to earn money by polishing shoes. The siblings embark on this new venture, and with hard work and dedication, they gradually improve their circumstances.

"Boot Polish" is a touching portrayal of the harsh realities faced by children in impoverished conditions. The film beautifully captures the innocence and resilience of Bhola and Belu, who are played by Ratan Kumar and Baby Naaz, respectively. Their performances are remarkable, evoking both sympathy and admiration from the audience.

The film also emphasizes the importance of education and how it can break the cycle of poverty. Bhola and Belu's encounter with a kind-hearted school teacher, played by David Abraham, provides a glimmer of hope and inspires them to strive for a better future.

One of the film's strengths lies in its ability to blend social commentary with moments of humor and joy. The song sequences, especially the popular track "Nanhe Munne Bachche," add a lively and entertaining element to the narrative.

"Boot Polish" was well-received by audiences and critics alike upon its release. It won the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director, and the child actors received special mention for their exceptional performances. The film's success can be attributed to its sincere storytelling, memorable characters, and its poignant exploration of social issues.

Overall, "Boot Polish" is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with viewers even after several decades. It serves as a reminder of the power of hope, determination, and the indomitable spirit of children in the face of adversity. If you appreciate thought-provoking cinema with a social message, "Boot Polish" is definitely worth watching.

This is a Hindi language film starring Rattan Kumar and Kumari Naaz.

The film is about the struggle to survive of two children, a brother and sister.

The premise is how after being orphaned, they have to beg to earn money for their guardian, a cruel aunt. And how they rise from that stage to trying to learn a skill and earn money for themselves.

And in my eyes, the film would have been a masterpiece if it had progressed from there to showing how they also get independent and help similar others struggling also to rise. It would have been an inspiring film for the newly independent country.

Instead the film refuses to leave its melancholic and cynical tone and shows that it's difficult for the poor to rise by themselves. A tone that it had set upfront by showing characters in black and white shades than the truly gray shades we all are, especially the aunt.

The message at the end is also very cynical. Where the spirit of the boy is shown as finally broken, and he is then humiliated in front of his own sister.

And the final message that the poor can only be redeemed by the rich!!

The purpose and the point of the film was missed in the melodrama and the film was awarded Best picture in 1954..

I rated it 6/10 in IMDB.

This is the sort of film which shows both the strengths - and the weaknesses - of classic Bollywood cinema. Conceived and executed more often than not with the mass audience in mind, but hoping to make some serious statements behind all the light entertainment, 'Boot Polish' suffers from being a little too long, as well as possessing an over- simplistic ending. On the plus side there is some great acting by the two young leads and some excellent social comment to be gleaned, conveyed through the fine black and white cinematography. Raj Kapoor, who makes a cameo appearance in the film, apparently saw the first cut of the project, then promptly scrapped a lot of what had been produced to start over again. His presence is perhaps most felt in some the Chaplinesque scenes and reforming sentiments which which surround Belu and John's kindly uncle (Prabhu Arora). The inherent decency of people, and the cinematic pathos of children torn from their guardians are all familiar from some of Chaplin's films.

As some critics have noted the two children, with Uncle's then John's particular insistence on the dignity of labour and disavowal of begging as a way of life, can be seen as symbolising the ambitions and hopes of Young India - which interpretation explains the somewhat naive ending of the film. Despite the distress which overtakes some of the young participants, Boot Polish ends on a note of optimism for the future, presumably echoing the Congress Party's offical line at the time. Before the two reach their just deserts however, and during their struggles to make ends meet and make their boot cleaning business work, there is a more obvious cinematic influence: that of the Italian Neo-Realists, especially Vittorio De Sica, whose own 'Shoe Shine'/'Sciuscià' had appeared in 1946.

While one or two of the songs interspersed through the film might be willingly dispensed with by modern Western audiences, there's one comic number (sung by Uncle in prison with a cell full of bald men) which is priceless and shouldn't be missed. Uncle is a convincing proseyltizer for the national Way Ahead, while a minor disreputable scoundrel in his own right. Less convincingly drawn are the parents who adopt Belu. Their all-round charitable concern reminds one of the childless couple who take Oliver Twist in off the streets, which is a form of symbolic caring rather than one dramatically fulfilling for the reader/viewer.

A word should be said about the excellent performance by Baby Naaz as the young sister Belu, in this her first appearance on screen. Although she only made a handful of films, her talent is amazing (as self aware and as talented as the young Jodie Foster IMHO) and is one of the biggest reasons to see the film.

Taken as a whole, 'Boot Polish' is very entertaining as well as being typical of the time at which it was made. If you enjoy classic Bollywood at close to its best, then this will worth looking out for. Admirers of the great Raj Kapoor will need little persuasion, but those who wish to see a great comic turn by Arora (is this really his only film?) will be advised too.

"There is no difficulty such that you cannot overcome it and no height such that you cannot reach it; you must keep trying." Raj Kapoor...

I saw Boot Polish once when I was a student in Michigan many years ago and I never forgot it. I was thrilled to be able to see it again this week in its new DVD release by Yash Raj Films, and I loved it just as much if not more.

Boot Polish is a pure example of Hindi cinema (now called "Bollywood"). It is filled with songs and dances, stylized artifice, idealized characters, myriad sub-plots, and an inspiring message. Though not a musical, the joyous and hypnotic songs are interwoven into the plot in a way that both enhances the drama and reminds you that it is "also" a movie.

The direction is attributed to Prakash Arora, assistant to the "great showman" Raj Kapoor; however, the story is that Kapoor took one look at the rush print and realized he had made a mistake in assigning it to Arora, then re-shot the entire film himself. The film won the 1953/54 Filmfare awards (India's version of the Oscars) for best picture, best supporting actor, and best cinematography.

The story is about the relationship between a ten-year old boy, Bhola (Rhatan Kumar) and his seven-year old sister Belu (Baby Naaz). The children are without parents. They live in a slum area in Bombay with Kamla, a cold and unloving relative, and must beg to stay alive. Bhola and Belu undergo verbal and physical abuse from Kamla when they don't bring home enough money each day. Their only friend is a neighbor, John Chacha (David Ebrahim), who operates a bootlegging business outside the law.

John Chacha provides the kids with the emotional warmth they need and tells them not to beg but to find some work. "Starve, die, but don't beg. Do something with your two hands", he says and instructs them in the art of polishing shoes. Bhola and Belu gradually become proficient in their trade and eke out a living, refusing to take alms. The monsoon rains come, however, and their business suffers. In addition, John's arrest takes from them the little love and comfort they had. Beg or die is the question that the children must now face.

Some may dismiss Boot Polish as melodrama but, for me, it is a life affirming and immensely rich cinematic experience. The love of the children for each other is very real, and their struggle for survival and social respectability is deeply moving. Filled with positive energy and the "heroic face of innocence", Boot Polish is now more than ever one of my all time favorite films.