Movies - Shri 420

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	Movies - Shri 420

Shri 420 (Mr. 420 in English) is a 1955 Bollywood film directed and produced by 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.

Synopsis

Shri 420 is the tale of a country boy, Raj (Raj Kapoor), who travels to the big city 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 businessman Seth (Nemo) and the sultry temptress Maya (Nadira), and becomes a swindler, or 420. Ultimately, Raj forsakes his greedy and dishonest ways.

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 main character.

In Vedic philosophy, Vidya means knowledge and Maya means illusion.

Trivia

The movie also proved to be popular in Russia. It was also said that Raj Kapoor was as popular as Nehru in Russia due to the success of the film.
The words "Ramayya vasthaavayya" in the song by same name are from Telugu, while the rest of the song and the film are in Hindi.

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