Musical journey with Boot Polish

 Boot Polish 1954

Music Directors: Shankar Jaikishan

 

The film Boot Polish is the heart-rending story of two orphan siblings Bhola (Ratan Kumar) and Belu (Naaz) who are forced to beg by their wicked aunt. A bootlegger John (David) teaches them dignity of labour and shows them how to work for a living with self-respect instead of begging. The songs of this film enhance the emotions that the viewer feels at every stage of Bhola’s and Belu’s childhood. Produced by Raj Kapoor, this film carries the shining unmistakable philosophical tone ingrained in all RK films.

1. Nanhe munhe bacchhe teri mutthi mein kya hai

A song that follows a pattern of questions and answers as John Chacha tries to know how motivated the children are and gets heartening answers from them which make him hopeful about their generation.

Written by Shailendra in 1954, this song presents hope, ethics and perseverance as the beacon showing the way ahead for India at that time. The song is full of optimism and the beauty of Kaviraj’s words is such that we hear this song at any juncture of life and wish that these ethics were upheld by one and all.

John Chacha asks:

"Bheekh mein jo moti miley, logey ya na logey,

Zindagi ke aansuon ka, bolo kya karogey ?

The children reply :

Bheekh mein jo moti miley, toh bhi hum na lengey,

Zindagi ke aansuon ki, maala pehnengey,

mushkilon se ladtey, bhidtey, jeeney mein mazaa hai...

 

2. Raat gayi phir din aata hai      

Written by Saraswati Kumar 'Deepak' , this is an inspiring song steeped in philosophy, sung by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosale.

Kabhi andhera kabhi ujaala

Phool khila phir murjhaata hai

Khela bachpan hansi jawaani
Magar budhaapa tadpaata hai…
Sukh dukh ka pahiya chalta hai
Wohi naseeba kehlaata hai
Raat gayi phir din aata hai
Issi tarah aate jaate hi
Ye saara jeewan jaata hai…

On a side note, these lines remind me of Shailendra’s lines from Teesri Kasam :

Ladakhpan khel mein khoya

Jawani neend bhar soya

Budhapa dekh kar roya

Yahi kissa purana hai…

 

3. John Chacha tum kitne ache

This song is generally considered as part of ‘Raat gayee phir din aata hai’ but is actually a separate song in its own right with a different theme which flows like liquid gold out of the earlier song. The complete desolate mood of the slum children who feel better after their John Chacha croons the soothing words of ‘Raat gayee phir din aata hai’  creates a change of mood when they start singing ‘John Chacha tum kitne ache, tumhe pyaar karte sab bachhe’. In true essence of this film, this peppy song still delivers punchy hard hitting life questions:

Chacha kya hoti taqdeer,

Kyun hai ek bhikaari, chacha,

Kyon hai ek Ameer…

The unfairness of life in distributing blessings in unequal portions.

4. Badhta chal

This song flows from John Chacha tum kitne ache, effectively making a trilogy of Raat gayee, John chacha tum kitne ache and Baddhta chal. This song culminates with the lines:

‘Yeh raat gayee, who subah nayee’

These lines essentially bring the trio of songs to a full circle as they re-emphasise the opening lines of the first song of the trio ‘Raat gayee phir din aata hai’, persuading the children that there is light after darkness. Always.

 

5. Theher zara o jaanewaale

Penned by Shailendra and sung by Asha Bhosle and Manna Dey, the lines question the disparity between the lower and upper classes in life. Asked in simple language that would be used by children to get some answers, the innocence in the words makes it much more effective.

Panditji mantar padhate hain

Woh Gangaji nahalate hain
Hum pet ka mantar padhte hai

Joote kaa muh chamakate hai…
Pandit ko paanch chavanni hai

Apni toh ek ikanni hai
Phir bhed bhav yeh kaisa hai

Jab sab ko pyara paisa hai
Oonch neech kuchh samajh naa paye

Hum matwale palishwale

On a sidenote, this song appeared in 1951 in background chorus form in Raj Kapoor’s Awara. It was filmed on a young Shashi Kapoor. It was sung by chorus singers and later used in its full form in Boot Polish. Here’s the clip for that chorus version!

 

6. Tumhare hain tumse daya maangte hain

It is a rare soul whose eyes don’t turn moist on hearing this song. Children in tattered clothes, walking the streets of the city, asking for compassion and help from the ones who have it all. Shailendra ensures an ethereal haplessness in the lyrics which makes us feel raw with emotion. Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhosale give this song a vulnerable sensitivity which gives the listener goosebumps. The term goosebumps, for me, was always a textbook term till I heard this song. After hearing this song, I finally knew exactly what goosebump feelings are.

Kissi ki na ho, jaisi kismat hai apni,

Dukhi dil sabhi ka bhalaa maangtey hain...

and

Kisi shaam ko, ek pal bhar jaley jo,

Hum aasha ka aisa diya maangtey hain...

 

7. Chali kaunse des

Chali kaunse des is counted as one of the most sensitive songs describing the emotions of a brother and sister. Although the words show a brother singing a bidaai song of farewell at his sister’s wedding, the film uses it in a very different context. Bhola is looking for his lost sister and this song comes on screen at a time when he is feeling extreme despair and losing hope of finding her. He happens to come across a blind street singer (Kaviraj Shailendra himself in a rare appearance) who is singing this at the roadside.  Shailendra excels with the lyrics, sung with ethos by Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosale.

Cannot help mentioning the extra stanza here which unfortunately is not available in any video version of the song. This extra stanza reveals an extra layer in the song where we realise that the poet is talking about something much deeper than bidaai.

" Do din jag mein, dhoom machaaye,

Jaakey koyi, waapas na aaye,

Khoj, khoj thakk jaaye,

Do naina, chaand suraj ke......"

 

Keeping to my theme of seven, I have not managed to include two equally beautiful songs Taron ko dil ki baat and  Lapak jhapak.

Watching Boot Polish is a life affirming cinema experience. The struggle of the children for their survival and respect from society is very moving. Hope you enjoyed the musical journey through this classic film. Do write in with your favourite song of Boot Polish with reasons in the comments below!