Panchu Kumtekar lives a near-destitute lifestyle in Bombay along with his school-going brother, Shiri. He makes a living as a con-man, gambling and picking pockets with the assistance of another poverty-stricken male, Choti. He has a friend in Ashok who sells Cavendar cigarettes on busy streets by wearing stilts. One day, Ashok meets a maidservant, Sonu Mangeshkar, and they fall in love. Shiri is unable to pay his fees, and is expelled from school, but a local prostitute, Prema, comes to his assistance, much to the initial displeasure of Panchu. But he changes his mind eventually and accepts her help. In time, they fall in love and get married. Ashok is then employed as a boxer by Sonu's employer, starts earning enough money to support them all, and even moves into a three bedroom apartment, while Panchu decides to become honest and finds work as a peon. Film starring Balraj Sahni, Kumkum and Sushil
Acting
Balraj Sahni's world-weary dignity anchors the chaos.
Writing
Prostitute-as-savior without exploitation? Rare for 1960.
Costume
Ashok's stilts-and-cigarettes hustle is pure visual storytelling.
Director
Arjun Hingorani
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Dharmendra's debut film—he was discovered by director Arjun Hingorani at a film studio, unpaid and unknown.
The sympathetic portrayal of Prema as marriage material was quietly radical for 1960s Indian cinema's moral framework.
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