Boot Polish (बूट पॉलिश)

How far is it? - We're almost there

l'm a greater hury than you are. This is social-service, for you

Cholera has spread in the city. l must see you off...

and take the first train to Jalgaon

Where is Kamla Devi's house? - Over there

Kamla Devi!

Kamla Devi...

Sit down, children

She must've gone out to fetch water. She'll be back soon

l can't wait, children. l must leave now

Here you are... give it to the lady

l've written eveything in it. And don't start cying

Oh yes... do eat something

Who are you children?

''The children's father was deported last week''

''Their mother died of cholera. So l leave them with you''

Your aunt will be back soon

Will you have something to eat?

Well? Whose children are you feeding?

They're now your children, Kamla. - My children?

Look what a sweet child he is

He'll be of great help to you when he grows up

Treat them like your own, okay? - Why not?

They're my brother-in-law's kids. - Well said, Kamla

How come? - The children are here. That's why

Oh no. l'm happy because his father has been deported!

l'm happy because his mother has died of cholera!

What l regret is that she didn't take them away with herself

Kamla, what are you saying? - Right too

When my husband died, their father threw me out to suffer in penuy

And they come to my doorstep today? This is good indeed

No, Kamla. Don't say that

You must've seen a nice soul's face today

lt was your face l saw this morning. - But l'm not a bad man

Oh yes, you're an angel! A bloody bootlegger!

And you're the goddess who sells her modesty?

Kamla, don't make me lose my temper. - Go away!

God has been kind to you, Kamla. He has given you two little children

Be a good woman and make good human beings out of them

Not like the folks you and l are. - They'll see what l make out of them!

Won't you go away? - l'm going

Listen, Kamla. Don't you hit them

Get lost, l say! Don't hit them, he says!

Come on!

Stand here and beg

lf you don't make four annas by this evening, you've had it

Stretch your palms... Give me a penny, sir

Give me a penny, sir... give me a penny

''You'll be robbed, if you don't give me a penny''

''You'll go to the police station if a theft takes place...''

''and file a report''

''Why must you do all that? Just give us a penny''

''Don't give us a penny, and your grandma will die''

''lf your grandma dies, you'll do the rites...''

''and feed the Brahmins''

''Why must you do all that? Just give us a penny''

Brothers and sisters! We have no support

My brother was born blind. My father died in the hospital

And my mother, in the war in Burma. - No

Father died in battle, mother died in hospital...

Oh yes. Mother died in the hospital and father died fighting in Burma

My brother is blind. l was going to blinded too

We have no one. You'll lose nothing, if you help us

May God bless your children. - Please give us a penny

Sir... please give me a penny

God will bless you, sir

Give me a penny, sir. God will bless you, sir

Belu! Come here!

What?

Belu, there's Rai Kapoor

ls that Raj Kapoor? They're all Raj Kapoors nowadays

l've seen many of their kind

So you can see?

Hello, Chitku. - Hello indeed

Begging, already? For pennies?

Shoeshine man. - Yes, sir

Give me a penny, sir. God will bless you

l've had nothing to eat, sir. l'm hungy, sir

Get lost!

Why push a poor boy ? Give me a penny, and l'll pray for you

2 annas, sir. For my hard work. And see the first-class polish

''Do not spit''

How much do you have? - And you?

Berries, 2 for one paisa

Brother, may l buy berries? - Berries!

l collect money for the polish and you want to buy berries!

Fresh berries, 2 for one paise

Want to eat berries?

C'mon. Don't cy!

Hey bery-seller! - Do you have the money?

First let's have a deal. - You get 2 for a paisa

Let's have 3 for a paise. - 2, l said. Or go going

Wait... Belu, he won't give us 3 for a paisa

Ask him for four, in that case. - Don't waste my time

Wait here

Eat one, Bhola. - You eat. l'm not a kid anymore

Don't put on airs. Eat one. - You eat it

You'll have to eat one

Ticket-checker! Run!

You still haven't eaten it? Silly girl! It won't double

We have seven annas and two paisas today

Let's hide an anna under the tree and give the rest to aunt

l don't like to beg, Belu

''Give me a penny, sir... Give me a penny, my Lord''

And eveybody curses us

When we have a rupee and 8 annas... - What then?

l'll buy two tins of polish, black and brown, and a brush too

l'll make a rupee evey day. See how much Chitku makes?

What if aunt gets to know? - She'll give us a thrashing

That she does evey day. But how will she get to know?

Know what? Let's keep the stuff with John Chacha (uncle)

Check how much we have, Belu - One paise, two paise, four annas...

We've got to give aunt 4 annas, Belu. - Oh yes, l know

Four annas, five annas... - Here's 2 annas more

You've messed up my count! You count it, l can't

Bhola! Here comes Chitku! Hide the money

Beggars eve_here

Hello, Chitku. - Hello

Back from begging...? ''Give me a penny, my lord...?''

Can't you find other work? - In a few days, Chitku...

we're going to stop begging. We're going to buy polish and a brush

You will see then. - See what?

Young pissers! You talk about polishing shoes

lt's a big ask, my boy. It took me a year to master it

Big deal! Bhola will learn it too. - Bhola will? As if it were a joke

lt has been our family business... And he'll learn it in a day?

Where will you get the money to buy the polish and the brush?

We've collected the money. - No, we haven't...

Shut up!

What were you doing by the tree? - Nothing. We were only playing

Playing eh?

Say hello to Kamla on my behalf. Kamla...! What a beauty

Bhola, l told you not to talk to him

John Chacha said he's not a nice boy. - We won't talk to him again

Let's go John Chacha. Come on

Has it sprung something? - l sure can see a strand or two

Didn't l tell you? That's the real oil

Get started again

John Chacha!

Run out of polish, John Chacha? - Polish?

What a shine he has given you! - Not polish... it's a massage

But your hair, John Chacha... - l've sprung some, son

Look, Belu. He had two strands yesterday. They've disappeared today

You use the polish on your head. And your face sprouts the hair?

Shut up! - Use bittergourd, uncle

You'll have long hair. - Get out!

You're bothering me! Go home! Your aunt will straighten you out!

Watch it... aunt might see us

l'll go in first, Bhola. - No, l'll go in first

Wait... l'm going in first. Hold the puppy

So you're here, little witch? Where's the rascal?

Didn't l tell you to return with the provisions before noon?

Where are the rations?

Your mother is dead but she Ieft me with this nuisance!

l accepted you for the sake of the world,...

or l'd have thrown you in the gutters. Where are the rations?

The ration card...?

Your father has been deported. And the two of you have fun here?

Why don't you just die instead? What do you mean to me anmay?

The ration card! - What?

What did you say? - Nothing.

l've just been mumbling something, aunt

What have you been whispering? - l'll play a cripple...

and beg henceforth, aunt. - So?

l said, l'm a cripple, l'm hungy, l'm blind...

my parents are dead, give me a penny, my hand is broken...

Did they give you the money? - No, aunt

You threw away the money? - No...

that fat man sneezed and threw all the stuff out

Threw it out? What rubbish! - No, aunt. He threw me out

No wonder! Worthless children! You can't even beg properly

Come, l'll teach you

l asked you to play blind and beat your stomach

''Mister! May you be happy. Two paisas... give me two paisas''

''Mister, give me two paisa. l'll buy myself some bread''

''l've been blind all day... - Blind all day? What rubbish!

No, aunt... l've been blind for ages... since l was born!

Remember the song l taught you? Spread your frock

''l spread my frock for alms... blessings for you, l have''

''l spread my frock for alms... blessings for you, l have''

Remember now? Do that from tomorrow

And wash the utensils

Where do you think you're going? And what are we waiting for?

Go and stand in the queue. - Let me take it first

l must go home, or aunt will beat me. - Get back there

Get back, boy... back!

How much time for the rations to be given?

Talk softly. Why're you yelling? - You talk loudly too

You look like a pick-pocket to me

He asks how many pockets are picked!

Hury up. Can't you see? It's beginning to rain

Come, boy. You're my first customer. Let me see your palm

How much money are you carying? - l've got just 2 paise...

So l'll tell you the future for 2 paisas worth. Out with it

But sir... - Out with it son

l've been waiting all day and nobody turned up

Out with it. - All right. l'll give it to you

Boy, you aren't going to study anymore

l haven't studied anything in the past either

Your two paisas worth is over. - How about my work...?