Review of Salaam Bombay! (1988) by Kristen B — 01 Sep 2007

Beautifully crafted. It explores the life of street children from various angles and ties it neatly with other social issues of poverty, child labour, prostitution, drug-peddling, desolation and so on. I think Mira Nair has done a wonderful job, as she does not go overboard with the plot and the emotions but tells it like it really is.

There were these instances when I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. When Chillum tells Krishna how scary "Chiller Homes" are or when the kids name the new Nepali girl "Solaah Saal". The movie's a heart wrenching and haunting portrayal of the vicious nature of life some of these people lead. I have come across many such kids - especially in Calcutta (in Parkstreet selling chewing gum) and Mysore (where they are found selling flowers or popcorn), but that they would lead such an existence never crossed my mind.

Apparently, most of the child actors in the movie were in reality street children handpicked by Nair for the role. Which makes their performance even more authentic.