Salaam Bombay – street children in Mumbai, India
September 11th, 2009 | by admin |
Here are three clips from this splendid film about a Bombay street child. In the first we see the hero, young Krishna, working for a circus. He is sent on an errand by the owner. When he returns the circus has left without him. He travels to Bombay, joins a group of street children and becomes a “chaipau”, a tea boy. In the second clip we see him with a prostitute who befriends him and her daughter, who has a crush on him (watch for her charming wink). In the final clip we see Krishna getting stoned in a graveyard with another friend from the streets, the drug addict Chillum.
This is an incredible film and if you haven’t seen it you should make a point of getting hold of a copy. The story of this street child, interwoven with the stories of the other street people presents a magnificent tapestry of life at the bottom in Bombay and is a genuine tragedy. The street children in the film are real street children that director Mira Nair recruited through drama workshops she held with them. Shafiq Syed’s stellar performance in the lead role won him the Indian equivalent of an Oscar for best performance by child.
Proceeds from the film went towards the founding of the Salaam Baalak Trust that has helped thousands of Indian street children over the years since the film’s release. Visit their website at http://salaamstreetkids.org/
The dvd is in Hindi with English subtitles (not, unfortunately, available in these clips.)
Duration : 0:8:38
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25 Responses to “Salaam Bombay – street children in Mumbai, India”
By Gordon713 on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I’ve seen this …
I’ve seen this movie several times…It’s great and sad at the same time..
By gisellejensen on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I will see if I can …
I will see if I can get a hold of it & upload it for you — am not promising, though.
By gisellejensen on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I would also add …
I would also add that this film has one of the most simple, yet creative endings I’ve ever come across in movies.
By gisellejensen on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
This is one of the …
This is one of the most heart-wrenching, soul-stirring, mesmerizing, thought-provoking, & brilliant films ever made in the history of cinema. Portraying the lives of everyday people in Mumbai, India, it takes us on a journey to the city, where we are introduced to the good, the bad, & the absolute unimaginable. It reminds us, once again, that there is more to life than just glamour, wealth, & prestige. Phenomenal direction & acting that is simply par excellence — especially by Shafiq Syed.
By viaggioinindia on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
The Millionaire is …
The Millionaire is an interesting western movie starring indian people, Salaam Bombay is a sincere indian movie, cruel maybe, but absolutely true and real, made to tell life, to picture street children stories in Mumbai, not to earn big money all over the world.
By momonii on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
does any1 know …
does any1 know where (manju) hansa vithal is now?
By mcbaby on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
This doesn’t …
This doesn’t compare to Slumdog. I saw this once late at night, and was captivated by it. There is no gimmick needed for this movie. It’s true, honest and portrays India the way it’s meant to be seen. The ending alone in this movie is worth watching over some stupid ending dance Slumdog thought was ‘mainstream’ and ‘cool’.
By chirushah88 on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
yeah but the oscars …
yeah but the oscars are mainly for west…If Indians make a great films (Black Friday, Taare Zameen Par, Chandni Bar) They will get ignored because they aren’t stereotypical enough and they don’t show the India Americans love to see (poor, struggling, cliche)…Black Friday is a brilliant film about the 1993 mumbai bombings…Chandni Bar is a classic film about a stuggling bar dancer.Taare Zameen Par is an uplifting film about a kid with dyslexia.Why no westerner has heard of these great films?
By darkpoetfarouk on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I haven’t seen ” …
I haven’t seen “Slumdog Millionaire” yet, but I’m sure “Salaam Bombay” is better. The kid that played Chai-Pow in the movie was brilliant. Most of the kids in “Salaam” were real street kids too–made the movie more authentic. I cried during the part where he just escaped from the Juvie home and his money is missing, gets beat up then says: “I hate this place!! I want to go home!!”
By darkpoetfarouk on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
Go to Walmart …
Go to Walmart website, you can special order this movie. Here in the United States, I can find this movie in any Blockbuster video store under their “Foreign” section.
By glenn1100 on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I ordered my copy a …
I ordered my copy a few yeasrs ago from best buy or try amazon.
By frenzytyrant on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
i think people …
i think people should realise by now that the oscars is nothing but a pretentious award run by arrogant s. the fact that a decent film by danny boyle which may i add would be considered ordinary at best in bollywood won so many oscars, proves that the oscars is anything but the ultimate goal for a director. i am glad that salaam bombay did not fall into the hands of glamour and remains a cult favorite amongst those people who appreciate true art.
By datta22222 on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
i ve been searching …
i ve been searching for the movie from a long time too! i dunno where to find it
By mara235 on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
Where can I get …
Where can I get this movie with English subtitles? Though I can really almost understand it without the English.
By newyorkgirl123000 on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
this film showcase …
this film showcase humanity ,lifes struggles with honesty and integrity the film was far better more beautiful ,less gimmicky then slumdog millionaire a film that was made to please the western audiences ,salaam bombay was not gimmicky like slumdog did not have ugly dialogues like this is the real india which screamed colonial racism ,but a film that told the story of those living in slums who share the same city with the rich middle and upper classes it told it with such power and beauty .
By dustofsoul on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
i´ve seen mira …
i´ve seen mira nairs movies when i was a young men, and it made me cry. powerful and so human and sad at the same time. slumdog is somehow the temporary interpretation of salaam bombay. but i agree: salaam touched me more, seems to be more realistic. but both movies are entertainment to us the whealthy white europeans….
By abcosdgh on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
What movie are you …
What movie are you talking about “its made to entertain” — Salaam Bombay or Slumdog? I feel that Slumdog was more of an entertaining movie; I liked it. But this movie is more realistic and I think it deserved an Oscar more than Slumdog did.
By dasunile on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
Guys, get the idea …
Guys, get the idea of the film, its made to entertain, There is no plot in this movie other than just another story. You guys just fail to forget to see the bigger picture. Slumdog was not about the way india was portrayed. It was about his winning the competition. You guys suffer from inferiority complex.
By justacigar on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
for slumdog it …
for slumdog it wrote for and sold to the western audiences – and they see what they want to see about India. poverty sells yet poor never does!! That is why Mira’s salaam Bomby did not make such a buzz as the slumdog.
By HalEBurton on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
The soundtrack has …
The soundtrack has haunted me for 20 years. This film is far superior to Slumdog.
By guldukan on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I have two words …
I have two words why this film did not make it to Oscar, English, Marketing,
This film was in bombay Hindi (more authentic) and Mira nair may not had marketing skills as dany boyle
By cinemawonderland on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
you’re right, this …
you’re right, this film is vastly more honest and superior to Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog.”
By abcosdgh on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I can’t believe * …
I can’t believe *this* movie did not win an Oscar but there’s so much Oscar buzz about Slumdog Millionaire.
By bisuntar on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
where is another …
where is another part
By ragyfish on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
chin chin choo
chin chin choo