DVD Corner

Salaam Bombay! Criterion 4K UHD Review

“Salaam Bombay!” is an emotionally powerful film. 

Scripted by Sooni Taraporevala, 1988’s “Salaam Bombay!” is a grounded drama set in the big city of Bombay, India (now known as Mumbai). The story revolves around a young boy named Krishna who begins the film working at a circus. You see, Krishna damaged his brother’s motorbike and in a fit of rage, his mother dropped him off at a circus to work. She tells Krishna he can’t return home until he repays the motorbike damage cost (500 rupees). While going off to do an errand for his boss, Krishna returns to find that the circus has up and left without him. Krishna buys a train ticket to the nearby Bombay where he begins to live on the streets and sell tea. He hopes to earn the 500 rupees so he can return home, but things never seem to go his way. 

While in Bombay, the film becomes a sort of ensemble piece as we (the audience) meet other characters that frequently cross paths with Krishna and reside in the downtrodden world that he now inhabits. Characters include Chillum (a grifter, drug pusher, and drug addict who works for Baba and is Krishna’s closest friend), Baba (a pimp, drug dealer, and father/husband), Rekha (a prostitute who is the wife of Baba and the mother to the innocent Manju) and Sweet Sixteen (a teen virgin who was sold to a Madam to become a prostitute). 

“Salaam Bombay!” marks the feature film directorial debut of Mira Nair and what a debut it is. This is the type of film that is tough to watch not only because of its unflinching subject matter, but because it’s so hard to shake. It’s a deeply heartbreaking and tragic film that feels so down to earth you might mistake it for a documentary. It’s a big city story of survival, broken dreams, loss, and pain. It’s about the harsh realities of life on the streets and the inescapable confines these characters find themselves in. Mina Nair’s film really packs an emotional wallop. It feels genuine from start to finish which is difficult to accomplish for any film.

The performances are divine across the board. Shafiq Syed (Krishna) made his acting debut here and he gives such a naturalistic and heartfelt performance. Raghuvir Yadav (Chillum) gives a heartbreaking performance, Anita Kanwar excels as Rekha, and the prolific Nana Patekar shows why he is an acclaimed actor as Baba.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? The 4K digital restoration works wonders here with sharper image quality. This new transfer gives the film a real scope too. 

Audio Track: Hindi Uncompressed Mono. How does it sound? From the sounds of the city to the very 80’s score by L. Subramaniam, this is a nice clean Mono track.

Extras (on the Blu-ray unless noted):
* Blu-ray copy
* “Salaam Bombay” trailer
* A booklet with credits and an essay by Devika Girish
* A 2003 commentary by Mira Nair and a 2003 commentary by cinematographer Sandi Sissel on the 4K and Blu-ray.
* A new 2025 interview with Mira Nair and composer L. Subramaniam about the score.
* A 2003 interview with screenwriter Sooni Taraporevala who discusses the research she did.
* 4 separate 2003 actor interviews with Shafiq Syed, Aneeta Kanwar, Hansa Vithal and Bernard Sissel.
* “Salaam Baalak Trust”- An 11 minute program about the organization that supports Mumbai’s street children.

December 6, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Criterion Collection, India Cinema, Mira Nair, Salaam Bombay!, Salaam Bombay! Criterion 4K UHD Review