Shri 420

Infobox_Film
name = Shri 420
श्री ४२०
420 شری


caption = Original poster
imdb_id = 0048613
writer = Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
V.P. Sathe
starring = Raj Kapoor
Nargis
Nadira
director = Raj Kapoor
producer = Raj Kapoor
editing = G.G. Mayekar
released = 1955
runtime = 168 min
language = Hindi
music = Shankar-Jaikishan
Choreography = Satyanarayan
released = September 6, 1955

"Shri 420" (Hindi: श्री ४२०, Urdu: 420 شری, translation: "Mr. 420", also transliterated as "Shree 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.

ynopsis

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). He eventually becomes a swindler, or "420." Ultimately, Raj forsakes his greedy and dishonest ways and realises his mistakes and changes his ways and becomes a good man.

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.

Music

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.Fact|date=February 2007
*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.
*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.

External links

*imdb title|id=0048613|title=Shri 420