How Long Is “Roti”?

Mehboob Khan directs this passionate melodrama about the corrupting power of capitalism, widely considered a classic of pre-World War II Indian cinema. The film opens with a poverty-stricken main character (Chandramohan) impersonating Seth Laxmidas, the long-lost scion of a wealthy merchant family. He quickly -- and ruthlessly -- climbs to the top of family empire. When he and his girlfriend Darling (Akhtari Faizabadi) crash their private airplane, they are nursed to health by Balam (Sheikh Mukhtar) and Kinari (Sitara Devi), members of a primitive tribe that believes in free love and no private property. The tribe members lend them a pair of water buffaloes for the arduous journey back to the city. When the animals aren't returned, Kinari and Balam venture into the city and are bewildered by the place. As Laxmidas plots the murder of his father-in-law, the tribal duo are arrested for theft and sentenced to hard labor. Darling, who has fallen for the kindhearted Balam, manages to spring the two from jail and point them in the direction home. Meanwhile, Laxmidas, who is on the lam from irate stockholders with a car full of gold bullion, dies of thirst when his car breaks down.