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Shri 420 श्री ४२० 420 شری
Original poster
Directed by	Raj Kapoor
Produced by	Raj Kapoor
Written by	Khwaja Ahmad Abbas V.P. Sathe
Starring	Raj Kapoor Nargis Nadira
Music by	Shankar-Jaikishan
Editing by	G.G. Mayekar
Release date(s)	September 6, 1955
Running time	168 min
Language	Hindi
IMDb profile

Shri 420 (Hindi: श्री ४२०, Urdu: 420 شری, translation: Mr. 420, also transliterated as Shree 420) is a 1955 Bollywood film directed, produced by and starring Raj Kapoor. The film centers on Raj, a poor, but educated orphan who comes to Bombay with dreams of success. Kapoor's character is heavily influenced by Charlie Chaplin's "little tramp", much like Kapoor's character in his 1951 Awaara.

The film is a collaboration between director/producer Kapoor and writer Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, with music composed by the team of Shankar Jaikishan. The song "Mera Joota Hai Japani" ('My shoes are Japanese'), became hugely popular and a patriotic symbol of the newly independent India.

Shri 420 is the tale of a country boy, Raj (Raj Kapoor), who travels to the big city to earn a living. He falls in love with the poor but virtuous Vidya (Nargis), but is soon seduced by the riches of a freewheeling and unethical lifestyle presented to him by an unscrupulous businessman Seth (Nemo) and the sultry temptress Maya (Nadira). He eventually becomes a swindler, or "420." Ultimately, Raj forsakes his greedy and dishonest ways.

• The title refers to section 420 of the Indian penal code, where crimes of theft and deception are punished, which relates to the troubles of the main character.
• In Vedic philosophy, Vidya means knowledge and Maya means illusion.

• The movie also proved to be popular in the Soviet Union. It was also said that Raj Kapoor was as popular as Nehru in Russia due to the success of the film.^{[citation needed]}
• The words "Ramayya vasthaavayya" in the song by same name are from Telugu, while the rest of the song and the film are in Hindi.
• The film grossed over Rs.20 million. This record was beaten 2 years later by Mother India in 1957.
• The song Mera Juta Hai Japani has become a patriotic favourite among many Indians and is often referenced, including in a recent acceptance speech at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2006 by renown Bengali author Mahasweta Devi.

• Shri 420 at the Internet Movie Database
• Chicago Reader Review

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