October 10th, 2008, 23:23
This clip is from an ancient Bollywood favorite called Dosti, which means "Friendship." It is a genuine tear-jerker, a story of love and friendship between two boys in India. To help you understand this clip a little better, here is the back-story.
A prize student, Ramnath, runs into financial problems at the beginning of the film. His father has died in the service of "The Company," and he and his ailing mother are awaiting compensation money from "The Company." Then Ramnath returns to his school, and learns that he has been expelled for non-payment of fees. The landlord drops by to complain that no rent has been paid for four months. The ailing mother voices her certainty that "The Company" will send money very soon.
A letter from "The Company" arrives, in which "The Company" disclaims all responsibility for the death of Ramnath's father. The ailing mother, in a fury, screams for revenge, topples down the stairs, and dies. Ramnath rushes to find help, and is hit by a speeding car -- an accident which reduces him to a cripple.
As Ramnath realizes on leaving the hospital, he suddenly has nothing and nobody -- and is a cripple as well. While he is adjusting to his new status in life, he sees a blind boy trying to cross the street, and dashes out (on his crutches) -- and saves the boy's life.
And so, these two beggar boys form a lasting friendship.
One day, in a good mood, Ramnath pulls out his harmonica and begins playing it. To his astonishment, people give him money for his performance. Outraged, he says, "I am not a beggar." And his blind friend replies, "No, you aren't. You didn't ask for money. You are being paid for giving people the pleasure of music."
So the film continues, for a short while, until one day the blind boy decides to join in and sing. Fortunately for the two friends, the blind boy just happens to be one of the very best singers in the world (actual back-singer was the world-famous Mohd Rafi).
So now, for your listening pleasure, the beginning of a love-opera between two Indian boys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3ZY6D-wjHE
A prize student, Ramnath, runs into financial problems at the beginning of the film. His father has died in the service of "The Company," and he and his ailing mother are awaiting compensation money from "The Company." Then Ramnath returns to his school, and learns that he has been expelled for non-payment of fees. The landlord drops by to complain that no rent has been paid for four months. The ailing mother voices her certainty that "The Company" will send money very soon.
A letter from "The Company" arrives, in which "The Company" disclaims all responsibility for the death of Ramnath's father. The ailing mother, in a fury, screams for revenge, topples down the stairs, and dies. Ramnath rushes to find help, and is hit by a speeding car -- an accident which reduces him to a cripple.
As Ramnath realizes on leaving the hospital, he suddenly has nothing and nobody -- and is a cripple as well. While he is adjusting to his new status in life, he sees a blind boy trying to cross the street, and dashes out (on his crutches) -- and saves the boy's life.
And so, these two beggar boys form a lasting friendship.
One day, in a good mood, Ramnath pulls out his harmonica and begins playing it. To his astonishment, people give him money for his performance. Outraged, he says, "I am not a beggar." And his blind friend replies, "No, you aren't. You didn't ask for money. You are being paid for giving people the pleasure of music."
So the film continues, for a short while, until one day the blind boy decides to join in and sing. Fortunately for the two friends, the blind boy just happens to be one of the very best singers in the world (actual back-singer was the world-famous Mohd Rafi).
So now, for your listening pleasure, the beginning of a love-opera between two Indian boys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3ZY6D-wjHE