Indira Jaap in Mazdoor Zindabaad (1976)

After the death of their poor mazdoor parents, young Bhola and Munni find themselves homeless, hungry and on the street. But then a kindly roadside gola (ice-candy) seller Kamla (Parveen Babi ) takes them in.

A staple bollywood affair.

But then, Mazdoor Zindabaad is a film from year 1976, the middle year of Emergency, and there is not one moment  in this magnus opus of sycophancy that lets the audience forget the great leader, her twenty points and her's son's five points. It was written directed and produced made by some guy named Naresh Kumar.He went on to make a film called Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath (1978) or 'Golden Heart-Iron Hand', a Chinese Kungfu film sounding title that some people would still use to describe Indira Gandhi.


(Humble offering) 'Mazdoor Zindabaad' doesn't try to describe the great leader, it just sings praises of her great plans. And how?

Kamla takes the bother-sister duo under her (and symbolically under Indira's) wings. She tells them soon poor shall get their share, have no fear Indira is here, poverty will be history, stand on your own feet, but first, have you heard about Indira's 20 point list?

Almost every scene featuring Parveen Babi ends with a synopsis from Indiraji's great program. Kamla when she is not threatening hoarders with wrath of Indira, just likes to listen to radio, and the radio always talks about Indira's proverty project. Then she likes to repeat it to anyone who would listen.

Inspired, Bhola becomes a balloon seller and his little sister Munni becomes a foot and leg masseuse for an old lady. All normal. And this goes on throughout the film even though the requisite twists and turns. Kamla  gets married to an idealistic government electrician who loves to work (Randhir Kapoor) and has move to another city when he gets transferred to another city. Kids decide they are happy alone in the city and don't go with her. Then the brother sister get separated, sister ends up in a rich family. And the stupid twists and turns and guest appearances. Dharmendra appears in a guest 'staged' item song crowing about 'Great things are about to come'.

Nothing about this film is right and this can be said about most Bollywood films but after watching this pathetic propaganda film, one gets a vivid picture of the stiffening political environment of Emergency days. There are a number of films made during that era which make a passing reference to the political environment of the time but nothing like this. Nothing like this. This must be what great leaders of great countries dream their beloved subjects would remember their great legacy by.