Salaam Bombay! (1988)

In the dusty corners of India, young Krishna, a victim of perpetual bullying by his elder brother, ignites a spark of rebellion that sets his brother's motorbike ablaze. This act of defiance places him in the harsh spotlight of his mother's wrath. She delivers an ultimatum - he can only return home once he earns Rs.500 to pay for the scorched bike. With a heavy heart, Krishna agrees and finds refuge in the vibrant world of the Apollo Circus. However, fate deals him a cruel hand. When he is sent on an errand, Krishna returns to find the circus has vanished, leaving him stranded. With no other option, he sets his sights on the bustling city of Bombay. Yet, the city's glittering facade soon fades when he's stripped of his meager belongings. Undeterred, Krishna trails the thieves, forming an unlikely alliance with them. His journey leads him to the infamous red-light district of Falkland Road, where he's baptized with a new identity - Chaipau. Here, he befriends Chillum, a drug pusher and addict, who secures him a job at a local tea stall. Chaipau's life becomes a whirlwind of serving tea and navigating the treacherous underbelly of Bombay. His sole beacon of hope remains the Rs.500 he must gather to return home. Yet, the city has its own set of rules, and saving money seems an insurmountable task. His plight amplifies when he develops a crush on Sola Saal, a young prostitute, leading to disastrous consequences. Fired from his job, Chaipau takes on odd jobs, tending to Chillum's drug needs and grappling with his own survival. He even resorts to daylight robbery, stripping an elderly Parsi man of his possessions. His actions, however, land him in a juvenile home, a detour that proves short-lived as he escapes back to Bombay’s seedy streets. Chaipau's journey is a poignant exploration of dreams and survival, set against the harsh backdrop of Bombay's underbelly. It is a tale of a young boy risking it all, chasing the elusive Rs.500, nurturing the dream of reuniting with his mother, and navigating the labyrinth of life.

Salaam Bombay! is a crime movie featuring Shafiq Syed and directed by Mira Nair.

Salaam Bombay! is currently streaming on Mubi.