Pamposh, fleur de lotus (1954)

Original title: Pamposh

Pamposh is India's first film in Gevacolor and tells the story of a deaf orphan Mogli who is adopted by the impoverished owner of a dilapidated houseboat Kassim. Though Kassim and his teenaged daughter Naseem take the orphan to their bosom his wife ill-treats the unfortunate child who is soon made into a household drudge. The little girl's only escape is into the lap of Mother Nature where she meets butterflies, frogs and fish who become her friends and playmates. Her favourite story is that of the Frog King in whose palace there are no tears and everyone is happy all day long. In the lotus fields of Kashmir which is her playground she meets the Old Man of the Lake who befriends the lonely child. Then, one day, when her foster mother's injustices cross all limits Mogli steals a canoe and goes into the lake in search of the Frog King's palace, never to be seen ever again. It is a bitter-sweet tale relieved only by the romantic interludes between Naseem and her love Aziz.