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IMDbPro

Salaam Bombay!

  • 1988
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Shafiq Syed in Salaam Bombay! (1988)
Young Krishna struggles to survive among the drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes in the back alleys and gutters of India.
Play trailer1:33
2 Videos
72 Photos
DocudramaCrimeDrama

Young Krishna struggles to survive among the drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes in the back alleys and gutters of India.Young Krishna struggles to survive among the drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes in the back alleys and gutters of India.Young Krishna struggles to survive among the drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes in the back alleys and gutters of India.

  • Director
    • Mira Nair
  • Writers
    • Mira Nair
    • Sooni Taraporevala
    • Hriday Lani
  • Stars
    • Shafiq Syed
    • Anjaan
    • Amrit Patel
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mira Nair
    • Writers
      • Mira Nair
      • Sooni Taraporevala
      • Hriday Lani
    • Stars
      • Shafiq Syed
      • Anjaan
      • Amrit Patel
    • 76User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 13 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:33
    Trailer
    A Salute to Women Directors
    Clip 5:09
    A Salute to Women Directors
    A Salute to Women Directors
    Clip 5:09
    A Salute to Women Directors

    Photos72

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    Top cast49

    Edit
    Shafiq Syed
    Shafiq Syed
    • Krishna…
    Anjaan
    • Kid at Circus
    Amrit Patel
    Amrit Patel
    • Circus Boss
    Murari Sharma
    • Ticket Seller
    Ram Murthy
    • Mad Man
    • (as Ram Moorti)
    Sarfuddin Qureshi
    • Koyla
    • (as Sarfuddin Quarassi)
    Raju Barnad
    • Keera
    Raghubir Yadav
    Raghubir Yadav
    • Chillum
    Anita Kanwar
    Anita Kanwar
    • Rekha Golub
    • (as Aneeta Kanwar)
    Nana Patekar
    Nana Patekar
    • Baba Golub
    Irshad Hashmi
    Irshad Hashmi
    • Chacha
    Hansa Vithal
    Hansa Vithal
    • Manju
    Mohanraj Babu
    • Salim
    Chandrashekhar Naidu
    • Chungal
    Krishna Thapa
    • Nepali Middleman
    • (as Kishan Thapa)
    Jamila
    • Woman at Brothel
    Chanda Sharma
    Chanda Sharma
    • Sola Saal
    Ramesh Rai
    • Barber
    • Director
      • Mira Nair
    • Writers
      • Mira Nair
      • Sooni Taraporevala
      • Hriday Lani
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews76

    7.910.6K
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    Featured reviews

    8nqure

    A story of lost innocence

    Like the 'Square Circle' which came after it, Mira Nair's film is a wonderful counterpoint to traditional Bollywood cinema, depicting issues that many in India would like conveniently swept under the carpet. Filled with humanity and compassion, the film does have a parallel with Bollywood dramas as it too is about 'escapism'. However, the story shows how these dreams are illusory; the silent 'Sweet Sixteen' showing her romantic photograph - a pretence - as her brothel madam hawks her virginity to a prospective buyer; Krishna's hopes of being forgiven and returning home to his family; the prostitute Rekha's hopes of a 'family life' with the pimp Baba.

    I particularly liked the way Nair paralleled childhood innocence with adult cynicism and cruelty. The final scene where Krishna the teaboy weeps for his lost innocence and at what he has become is very moving; like the drug-addict Chillum, he has 'forgotten' how he first came to Bombay and now only sees a life of despair and suffering.
    9apursansar

    Haunting - more people should see it

    This is one of the single most powerful films I've ever seen. Having been to India several times and knowing to an extent what it's like for the poor kids that have to make it on the streets, it really gets to me. I know that it received quite a bit of critical acclaim when it came out, but I didn't discover it until recently, and, judging from the number of votes that its gotten on this site, it doesn't seem as though too many people have seen it. I hope more people do; these kids don't have much of a voice in their own country, let alone the rest of the world, but movies like this give them one and it should be heard by everyone.
    10tegg96

    A heart wrenching and very realistic drama.

    Having just returned from an extended trip to India I was keen to see a quality Indian film (not bollywood drival)and I have come across one of the most realistic and moving films I have ever seen. Having been involved in helping street kids in India I was pleased to come across this film which so accurately depicts life, love and death around a group of street boys in Bombay.

    SALAAM BOMBAY is the story of a 12-year-old street boy surviving and etching out an existence on the squalled streets of Bombay. The interactions these kids have with each other made me feel I was watching a doco. The kids in India are so much like Chipau and the others depicted in Salaam Bombay its amazing. They all have there individual lives and dreams like us all but are burdened with extreame poverty.

    The story lines in the film are about the prostitution business, drug addiction and homeless children. All these elements combine so as we see the people and lives behind them. These issues are rarely dealt with on such a personal and emotional level as we see in this film. This ain't Hollywood and it sure ain't Bollywood.

    For me my favorite all time film. You may have difficulty in finding this film at your local video library but it truly is worth viewing.

    Recently we showed this film to a group of street kids in Pune, India. They were amazed at its realism. All thought they were watching real people not actors,(These kids have grown up watching Bollywood films). This same group would have watched this film 5 times now. And all could identify with the characters.
    9apursansar

    Haunting

    This is one of the single most powerful films I've ever seen. Having been to India several times and knowing to an extent what it's like for the poor kids that have to make it on the streets, it really gets to me. I know that it received quite a bit of critical acclaim when it came out, but I didn't discover it until recently, and, judging from the number of votes that its gotten on this site, it doesn't seem as though too many people have seen it. I hope more people do; these kids don't have much of a voice in their own country, let alone the rest of the world, but movies like this give them one and it should be heard by everyone.
    rl400

    Lost Childhoods

    A brilliant but sad film in which we follow abandoned Krishna on his quest to make enough money to return to his village. Along the way we meet the street kids, prostitutes, pimps and dealers he shares everyday life with.

    An amazing aspect is that all the child actors in the film are real street kids picked after attending workshops run by Nair and friends. In particular the central performances of Krishna, Manju and Coalpiece (his songs!) are superb. Despite their hardships there are some great moments when you see glimpses of the playful kids within.

    The film never wanders into over-sentimentality and at times its hard to believe you're not watching a documentary. Hindi-film music and escapism seeps into everyday life, actors mingle with ordinary people and the whole film is shot in real locations around Mumbai that just drip with atmosphere. This sadly includes the chiller room which was filmed as they found it along with the soul-crushing 'Flowers that never bloom' prayer.

    The story wanders and can be slow but this only serves to draw you into their world and leave you sad and angry at the end - at the loss of childhood for these kids and countless others. Still relevant today.

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    Guide

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Irrfan Khan made an appearance in this film as a writer, one of his first appearances.
    • Goofs
      The day Chaipav escapes the Child Reformation Home, the Superintendent and his assistant are watching the Semi-Final of the 1987 Cricket World Cup (as evident from the commentary), which was held on 5th November, 1987. But when Chaipav returns to the red-light district the same day, a procession can be seen carrying a huge Ganpati idol, so the day must be Ganesh Chaturthi (installation day) or Anant Chaturdashi (Ganpati Visarjan- immersion day). However, in 1987, the dates for Ganesh Chaturthi and Anant Chaturdashi were 28th August and 6th September, respectively. Thus, the semi-final and Ganesh Chaturthi/Visarjan did not take place on the same day.
    • Quotes

      Rekha Golub: [To Baba] Just like a customer.

    • Crazy credits
      Ending credits: no guts no glory 52 locations 52 days what problem? no problem
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Alien Nation/Elvira: Mistress of the Dark/Imagine: John Lennon/Salaam Bombay/Track 29 (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Chin Chin Chu
      (uncredited)

      Written by O.P. Nayyar

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Salaam Bombay!?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 24, 1988 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • India
      • United States
      • France
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Salaam Baalak Trust
    • Languages
      • Hindi
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hello Bombay!
    • Filming locations
      • Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
    • Production companies
      • Mirabai Films
      • Film Four International
      • National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,080,046
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,080,758
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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