indian cinema heritage foundation

Balak (1969)

  • Release Date1969
  • GenreDrama
  • FormatB-W
  • LanguageHindi
  • Run Time140 mins
  • Length3995.43 metres
  • Number of Reels15
  • Gauge35mm
  • Censor RatingU
  • Censor Certificate Number57096
  • Certificate Date30/04/1979
  • Shooting LocationRanjit Studios
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This is a tragic and touching tale of a child, who was not only an orphan but was branded as unlucky.  The poor child, Deepak, lost his parents on the day of his birth. He had an elder sister who caressed her younger brother amidst social atrocities. Their Mama took them to his house in another town. But were the two happy here? No, Mami was just like the traditional step mothers. She would curse them, punish them and make their lives miserable. But the innocent two assed their bad time under the cover of Mama's great sympathy. But a time came, when sister grew young and had to marry and take leave of this house. Thus, the child Deepak lost the company of his sister too.

As he was left alone, the tortures of Mami and her son Antoo reached new heights, beyond the control of Mama, who was all the more shocked at the unworthy advances towards vices of his own son Antoo. While Mama loved, favoured and encouraged orphan Deepu, Mami would always side for his beloved son Antoo, with the result that their son became a vagabond, drunkard and what not. This was no small a setback to his father (Mama), that he got ill and took to bed. Mami and her brother Anokhelal prevailed upon Dipu, that Mama, that Mama could recover only if this poor creature on earth left this house forever. And so Dipu left and went away for unknown destination. With him was his one companion, Moti, the dog. But a time came soon when Moti was separated. A municipal van took it away and Dipu could not rescue Moti.

Lonely Dipu fell prey to a gang of kidnapped children engaged in ulterior professions. Dipu was forced to take up the lucrative business, but he would face and bear the ships of Ustad but not yield. At the home front, Mama and Mami fell prey to their son Antoo, who made his parents penniless and they also had to leave their home in pitiable condition. Mama became seriously ill during their homeless travel, Dipu frustrated, victim of beatings and humiliations. Mama dying without treatment, Mami helpless, Sister getting no news of Dipu or Mama, perturbed with tears all the time rolling out of her eyes, Antoo wasting his life at the feet of a dancer. All disunited, separated, fallen at the mercy of destiny, till you see the film "BALAK" and find out how fate could play miracles and solve all problems so simply and so superbly, that one would utter spontaneously "what a lucky BALAK".
 

[from the official press booklet]

Cast

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Films by the same director