Boot Polish (1954)

Director: Prakash Arora

Boot Polish (1954)

This movie beautifully portrays the bond of a family and how the love of a brother and sister remains undeterred even after facing a world of difficulties at such a tender age. The elder, Bhola, and his sister, Belu, are orphaned and left to stay with their aunt, Kamla, who forces them to beg on the streets. Having lost their childhood innocence to living the life of a beggar, the children are helped by a friend, John Chacha. He doesn’t have much to offer but he provides them with emotional warmth and the lesson, “Starve, die, but don’t beg. Do something with your two hands”.  Songs like “Nanhe Munne Bachche” and “Tu Badhta Chal” keep you enthralled throughout the movie. Things take a turn for the worse when Bhola and Belu get separated and Belu is adopted by a rich family while Bhola is left on the streets.
But like ever cloud has a silver lining, the two are finally united again and with their new family.
I went through a thousand emotions while watching the movie. And just like every other lesson in life, the movie taught me the real meaning of the quote “this too shall pass!”
The movie was yet another masterpiece under the RK Banner and received a deserving Filmfare award for ‘The Best Film’. A movie that will always be in my heart, “Boot Polish” holds something special in store for everyone who watches it.