Toddlers Belu and Bhola share an uncertain future when their mom dies of the plague, and their dad is imprisoned. They are then left in the uncaring care of Kamla, their aunt, who moonlights as a prostitute. She is cruel, abusive, and forces them to beg on trains, on beaches and in crowded areas in Bombay. This is how the toddlers grow up: they want to lead a respectable life, and with the help of bootlegger John, they get a shoe-shine kit and start shining shoes on busy sidewalks and railway platforms. Their circumstances face more uncertainty when Kamla finds out about their new-found profession, beats them up and throws them out of the house. They temporarily seek shelter with John, but when he is arrested, they have to fend for themselves. Things become bad to worse when Bombay enters the monsoon season, when people do not get their shoes shined; then the duo are separated - with Belu ending up with a rich family, and when she asks about Bhola, she is told that he is dead. The question remains is Bhola really dead, if not, what has been his fate?

DVD-R is in Hindi with switchable English subtitles. Approx. 143 mins. See film sample for audio and video quality!