Shree 420 (translation: Mr. 420, also transliterated as Shri 420) is a 1955 Bollywood film directed, produced by and starring Raj Kapoor. 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.
The film is a collaboration between director/producer Kapoor and writer Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, with music composed by the team of Shankar Jaikishan. The song “Mera Joota Hai Japani” (‘My shoes are Japanese’), became hugely popular and a patriotic symbol of the newly independent India.
Storyline
Shree 420 is the tale of a country boy, Raj (Raj Kapoor), from Allahabad, who travels to the big city, Mumbai, by walk, 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 Dharmaanand(Nemo) and the sultry temptress Maya (Nadira). He eventually becomes a swindler, or “420.” He even cheated in card gambling. Vidya trieed hard to make Raj a good man but fails. Ultimately, Raj forsakes his greedy and dishonest ways and realises his mistakes and changes his ways and becomes a good and hardworking person for the rest of his life.
Trivia
- The movie also proved to be popular in the Soviet Union. It was also said that Raj Kapoor was as popular as Nehru in Russia due to the success of the film.
- The words “Ramaiya Vastavaiya” in the song by the same name are from Telugu, while the rest of the song and the film are in Hindi.
- The film grossed over Rs.20 million. This record was beaten 2 years later by Mother India in 1957.
- The song Mera Joota Hai Japani has become a patriotic favourite among many Indians and is often referenced, including in a recent acceptance speech at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2006 by renown Bengali author Mahasweta Devi.
Title and character names
- The title refers to section 420 of the Indian penal code, where crimes of theft and deception are punished, which relates to the troubles of the main character.
- In Vedic philosophy, Vidya means knowledge and Maya means illusion.
