Shree 420 - 1954

A 1955 hit from the director/producer/actor Raj Kapoor and writer Kwaja Ahmad Abbas. Raj Kapoor plays the lead role of a poor educated orphan Raj. Charlie Chaplin’s “little tramp” was a major influence in developing the character (as it was for Kapoor’s Awara). Other major cast includes Nargis, Lalita Pawar and Nadira.

The title refers to section 420 of Indian Penal Code that observes theft and deception as punishable crime. The film depicts the effect a big city has on the mind of an innocent person. The film was big musical hit of that time with songs whose fame crossed borders. The soundtrack composed by the duo Shankar Jaikishan, includes songs like "Mera Joota Hai Japani," "Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua" and "Ramaiya Vastavaiya."