Shree 420
| Shri 420 | |
|---|---|
Original poster
|
|
| Directed by | Raj Kapoor |
| Produced by | Raj Kapoor |
| Written by |
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas V.P. Sathe |
| Starring |
Raj Kapoor Nargis Nadira |
| Music by | Shankar-Jaikishan |
| Cinematography | Radhu Karmakar |
| Edited by | G.G. Mayekar |
|
Release date
|
16 September 1955 |
|
Running time
|
168 min |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Shree 420 (Hindi श्री ४२०, translation: Mrs 420, also transliterated as Shri 420) is a 1955 Bollywood film directed, produced by and starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis. The number 420 refers to Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which prescribes the punishment for the offence of cheating; hence, "Mr. 420" is a derogatory term for a cheat. The film centers on Raj, a poor but educated orphan who comes to Bombay with dreams of success. Kapoor's character is heavily influenced by Charlie Chaplin's "little tramp", much like Kapoor's character in his 1951 Awaara. It was written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, and the music was composed by the team of Shankar Jaikishan. The lyrics were penned by Shailendra.
Shree 420 was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1955, and the song "Mera Joota Hai Japani" ("My Shoes are Japanese"), sung by Mukesh, became popular and a patriotic symbol of the newly independent India.
A country boy, Raj (Raj Kapoor), from Allahabad, travels to the big city, Bombay, by walking, to earn a living. He falls in love with the poor but virtuous Vidya (Nargis), but is soon seduced by the riches of a freewheeling and unethical lifestyle presented to him by an unscrupulous and dishonest businessman, Seth Sonachand Dharmanand (Nemo) and the sultry temptress Maya (Nadira). He eventually becomes a confidence trickster, or "420," who even cheats in card gambling. Vidya tries hard to make Raj a good man but fails.
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