Naunihal is a story of a young boy Raju who sets on a mission to meet Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was then the Prime Minister of India. This is definitely a different subject to attempt. The movie manages to stay focused on its core theme and engage the viewer as Raju moves closer to meet his esteemed Chacha Nehru. This was Saawan Kumar Tak’s first movie as a producer (he also wrote the story). The director is Raj Marbros.

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The Plot

The film begins with a meeting scene in a school in Panchgani. The school’s Principal (Balraj Sahni) is talking to the board of directors when they hear a commotion outside. The Principal, teachers and students as well as the board rush to the library to find that a student Raju (Master Babloo) has been throwing books and smashing objects in anger. Raju has had a fight with his classmates and was punished and locked in the library. The board is not impressed with his behaviour and inform the Principal to claim the damages from Raju’s parents and send him back to them.

A patient Principal informs them about Raju’s background through a flashback. The Principal was an orphan who grew up to be a successful man. He was married and had children. His family had been pestering him to take them to Panchgani, so they all can stay together. He finally agrees and goes to his home town in happy anticipation but there he comes face to face with a horrifying reality. An epidemic (mahamaari) has hit the town and there is death and illness everywhere. He has even lost his own family. Wandering around, he finds a boy crying. Apparently, he is alone having lost his family. This boy is Raju, now an orphan. The Principal believes that even an orphan has the right to live, be cared for and become successful. It reminds him of his own childhood. So the Principal brings Raju to Panchgani and enrolls him in his school. He does not adopt him but ensures he is well looked after.

Raju is constantly reminded he has no parents or relatives. Especially when the other students’ parents visit them and he sees their warm bonding. Apart from the Principal, there is a teacher Uma (Indrani Mukherjee) who dotes upon Raju. He accidentally keeps calls her “didi” (meaning elder sister) instead of teacher but she doesn’t mind.

Among the other students is Billo (Junior Mehmood) who keeps having a fight with Raju. Billoo’s brother is Rakesh (Sanjeev Kumar) who is an ex-student and a favorite of the Principal. Rakesh visits the school occasionally. Unknown to the Principal, Rakesh is in love with Uma. He informs his parents (Brahm Bharadwaj and Shaukat Kaifi) of his relationship and they are supportive of the match.

Back to Raju. Its report day. He sees the other boys spending time with their parents who have got gifts for them and are showering affection. Raju is once gain reminded he is alone. He is crying when students taunt him of being “anaath.” He gets into a fight and Uma and the Principal need to intervene. The Principal takes him inside and shows him Pandit Nehru’s photo fondly referred as Chacha (uncle) Nehru by children. The Principal says this is your uncle and don’t consider yourself alone.

Surprisingly Raju behaves as if he doesn’t know who Pandit Nehru is and his position as the country’s Prime Minister. He asks the Principal why doesn’t his uncle come to Panchgani to meet him. The Principal tells him its because Raju is a bad boy who keeps fighting. Raju promises to Pandit Nehru’s photo that he will be a good boy going forward. Further, the Principal asks Raju to write a letter to Pandit Nehru, which he does. Raju is happy about this new “relationship.” He steals the PM’s photo and keeps it in his hostel room, along with a red rose (plucked from the school garden).

One day, the Principal is having a heated discussion with the board of directors. He is not willing to raise the school fees. Raju rushes in to tell him that he has got a response from Pandit Nehru. The Principal is overjoyed, picks up Raju and suddenly collapses (apparently due to a heart attack). He is forced to leave for treatment in a nursing home. Strangely, the other teachers refuse to conduct classes until he is back and the school holidays are declared. (Wonder how the board agrees to this!). The students rejoice when they hear about the holidays.

The parents arrive to take the children home. Meanwhile Raju hears that his Chacha Nehru will be going to Mumbai (Bombay) and giving a speech near Chowpatty. With the Principal being away, he rushes to inform Uma but she is busy talking to the students’ parents and shouts at him to leave her alone. Raju hears that one of his fellow students is leaving for Mumbai. Unable to make his mind, he suddenly decides to hide in the boot of the car and lands in Mumbai.

Here the film enters a dark zone. He first meets a deranged old man (Harindranath Chattopadhyay) who looks after him for some time. He takes him to Chowpatty but they realise that the rally is over and Pandit Nehru has gone back to New Delhi. Later, Raju finds himself in the company of some child beggars who are after his money (he had carried Rs. 10 with him from Panchgani).

He ultimately gets kidnapped and lands in the slum where Mansaram (Manmohan) runs his training school. His profession? – training young boys and girls to make them beg in Mumbai. We are introduced to the grim reality of the begging profession. Very young children are made to lose their sight (made blind forcibly) or break their hands or legs to ensure they make effective beggars. The only sound people here are a poet Kavi (Jagdeep) and a blind young woman Kavita (Madhavi) who show concern for Raju.

In spite of all the hurdles, Raju manages to catch a train and reach New Delhi. A kind man (Abhi Bhattacharya) gives him shelter and informs Uma and the Principal (the Principal has recovered and is back in the school). Both of them rush to join Raju in New Delhi. Will they be successful in fulfilling Raju’s mission?

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The Music

Technically, this subject does not have much scope for songs and there are too many (8 songs!), most of the seem wasted. This, in spite of having Kaifi Azmi as the lyricist and Madan Mohan as the music director.

Mohammed Rafi steals the show with 2 highly memorable numbers. It also brings out his versatility. The first is the soft romantic number Tumhari zulf ki saaye mein shaam kar doonga picturized on Sanjeev Kumar. And he sings the very moving “Meri awaaz suno.” [SPOILER AHEAD] – this song appears at the end of the movie and has some historic footage of Pandit Nehru’s funeral. The song is effective in capturing the mood of the sorrowful scenes.

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My Thoughts

As stated, the movie’s theme is different from normal movies. And thankfully, its focus is on Raju and his mission. It does not spend much time on other sub plots or the romantic track. Also, the main plot moves smoothly from the innocence of the school life in the hill station to the metro city with its harsh reality. Master Babloo is convincing as Raju and his bond with the Principal and Uma is brought out naturally. Balraj Sahni is as usual impressive. This was Sanjeev Kumar’s initial movies and he doesn’t have much to do other than meet his love interest (Uma) and then keep hunting for Raju in Mumbai. The characters in the latter half – Manmohan, Jagdeep and Madhavi are good. Jagdeep plays a serious role, very different from his later comedic avatar.

Unfortunately, the film has some loopholes which don’t make the story believable (like Raju being able to run away from school easily). But I think those can be ignored as we join Raju in his journey to New Delhi and see how the story moves to its poignant and unexpected climax.