Awara (1951)

One of the true classics of Bollywood's golden era, Awara is as visually rich and dramatically compelling as anything being made in Hollywood at the time. Directed by and starring Indian cinema icon Raj Kapoor, whose films often balanced personal obsession with populist appeal, the film is essentially concerned with the question of nature versus nurture. Is Kapoor's character, a luckless thief, condemned by birth to be a criminal, or can he be redeemed by force of will? Adding depth to the question is the Kapoor's decision to cast his own father Prithviraj Kapoor in the role of the stern judge who firmly believes the young thief can never be reformed. Awara features powerful performances and gorgeous black and white cinematography, but what really elevates it to the status of a classic is its famous dream sequence, a surrealist depiction of both heaven and hell populated by a throng of sensuous dancers that, for mind-boggling visual splendor, is simply unmatched. Awara perfectly illustrates all that was great about Bollywood's mid-20th Century heyday. ~ Tom Vick, All Movie Guide