The Film Censor Board and the movie, Awaara

When Shr Nathji was in Bombay.  In 1955, He was searching for a film projector for His sons. As Shri Nathji's search for a film projector continued, he saw a signboard in the city that spoke of cine films. Shri Nathji went inside the office and enquired about projectors. The man was so touched by Shri Nathji's personality that he respectfully offered him a chair, and asked him who he was.

As Shri Nathji began speaking to him, his heart became so overcome with emotion that he became very devoted to Shri Nathji and even called his partners and colleagues to listen to his words and to take his darshan. Mateshwari and the boys were with Shri Nathji, as always.

The man was the head of the Film Censor establishment that dealt with the release of new films. They had a small-sized theatre, where they previewed films, and he took Shri Nathji there and showed a scene from a film that had just come to him.

It was the film, Awara. Both, Shri Nathji and Mateshwari, enjoyed the scene of the film. Raj Kapoor and Nargis had always been Mateshwari’s favourite film pair. The film was to become an astounding success in the country and abroad in later days. It was due to the special blessings that it received from Shri Nathji's first viewing as the Chief Censor in the world.

The place which Shri Nathji visited was The Central Board of Film Certification office. It’s address is –

Bharat Bhavan, 91 Walkeshwar Road, Malabar Hill, Mumbai, MH 400006

This office is still there in the same location as it was when Shri Nathji visited it in 1955.

Probably, the head of the Film Censor establishment whom Shri Nathji met was B. D. Mirchandani        who was the chairperson of The Central Board of Film Certification from 15 June 1954       till 9 June 1955. The Central Board of Film Certification (often referred to as the Censor Board) is a statutory censorship and classification body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It is tasked with "regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952". It assigns certifications to films, television shows, television ads, and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in India. Films can be publicly exhibited in India only they are certified by the Board.

Awaara was a 1951 Hindi film directed and produced by Raj Kapoor who also plays the leading role. Music was composed by the team of Shankar Jaikishan. Kapoor's real-life father Prithviraj Kapoor stars as his on-screen father Judge Raghunath. Kapoor's youngest real-life brother Shashi Kapoor plays the younger version of his character. Prithiviraj's father Dewan Bashwanath Kapoor also played a cameo role in his only film appearance. Thus the entire generation of Kapoor clan acted in this movie.

The film centers on the intertwining lives of poor Raj (Kapoor) and privileged Rita (Nargis). In the film, Kapoor's poor, innocent "little tramp" character references Charlie Chaplin and was further developed in other Kapoor films such as Shri 420.

The film became an overnight sensation in South Asia, and found success abroad in the Soviet Union, East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In particular, the song "Awara Hoon" (I am a Tramp), sung by Mukesh with lyrics by Shailendra, became hugely popular across the Indian subcontinent, as well as in the Soviet Union, China, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Romania. The film was also nominated for the Grand Prize of the Cannes Film Festival in 1953. Owing to its popularity in so many countries, the film is a candidate for most successful film of all time. In 2012, Awaara was included in the 20 new entries to All-Time 100 greatest films by TIME.

In the Soviet Union, Awaara is estimated to have drawn between 40 to 63 million viewers to cinemas across the nation. It remained the most successful Indian film in the Soviet Union

The film was also a nationwide success in China, where the song "Awara Hoon" and actor Raj Kapoor became widely known across the nation. The film Awaara and the song "Awaara Hoon" are believed to have been Chairman Mao's favourite film and song, respectively. In more recent years, Awaara was referenced in the 2000 Chinese film Platform.

Due to the film's remarkable success on Turkish spectators, Awaara was remade in Turkey as Avare in 1964 starred by prominent Turkish actor Sadri Alışık, along with actress Ajda Pekkan.