His family name comes from his Slovak great-grandfather who left Austria-Hungary for the Russian Empire just before the start of the World War I, saving from ethnic cleansing of Slavs.

After the end of war Poloka tried to enter director's courses, but was rejected for being too young.

He directed several documentary films and worked as an assistant director with Grigori Aleksandrov, Mikhail Romm, Boris Barnet and others.

In 1962 a children's movie Kapron Fishnet was released, co-directed by Poloka and Levan Shengeliya.

Four years later he directed his first independent feature – The Republic of ShKID based on the acclaimed children's novel by two former orphans (who served as screenwriters).

[7] Poloka later worked in various genres: adventure film (One of Us), comedy-romance (Melody for Two Voices), criminal comedy (Was There Karotin?)