RAJ KAPOOR - THE GREATEST SHOWMAN OF INDIAN CINEMA
Raj Kapoor – The greatest showman of Indian Cinema
Ranbir Raj Kapoor (14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as "the greatest showman of Indian cinema", was a noted Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. Raj Kapoor was the son of well-known Indian actor Prithviraj Kapoor, who acted both in film and on stage.
His films had great entertainment value, emotional and tender love portrayal, and master craftsmanship of the medium of cinema. RK was the doyen of Hindi Cinema. His films offered guaranteed entertainment value and beautiful depictions of song sequences with magnanimous sets. Raj Kapoor had a great sense of music and the music of his films was very popular not only in India but in countries like Russia too.
His name is famous in Africa, the Middle East, China, Turkey, Southeast Asia and Russia. In Russia uncensored version of “Bobby” with intimate scenes was shown to audiences during the time of release of the movie there.
Raj Kapoor passed away on the day he was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award for contribution to Indian Cinema.
Despite being in a very bad health, RK agreed to come personally to Delhi to receive the big award. The ceremony was held at the Sirifort Auditorium and due to security reasons, his oxygen cylinder wasn't allowed inside. When his name was announced, he felt a chest pain and asked his wife to go on the stage. Seeing this, the then President of India R. Venkataraman broke the protocol and walked down the stage himself for RK. But by then his condition began falling and RK had to be rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) located in New Delhi, India. He was admitted with an advanced stage of trachea obstruction, and after a month of battling for life on an artificial respiratory system, he succumbed to "multiple organ failure leading to cardio-respiratory arrest".
Raj Kapoor hailed from the second generation of Bollywood's film family. Son of Prithviraj Kapoor, he had more to what met the eye. Well, he began as a clap-boy for director Kidar Sharma. RK used to comb Kidar's hair. Once Kidar even slapped Raj when he accidentally pulled off his fake beard!
RK initially wanted to become a music director. By the age of 24, he established his own studio, R.K Films, and began his directorial career, starting with Aag. He went on to direct, produce and act in many box office hits.
If you saw his film “Mera Naam Joker” in your childhood, chances are that you won't realize the depth of it. Why we call the movie, a piece of art is because of its relevance in any time period. The film is one of the most iconic films in India. It is said the film was so heavy on its subject, that it was the first Hindi movie to have two intervals. And it was four and a half hours long!
The scene where Rishi meets Dimple Kapadia in her house in his film “Bobby” was picked from RK's real-life meeting with his favorite actress Nargis.
Raj Kapoor had a fascination for white saree or dress and almost all his heroines he directed had worn the same in his films. Also, his penchant for female bosom was the talk of the town and his heroines were made to expose bare boobs in his movies he got away with censors at that time and the movies were released with such scenes intact. Remember the fact that it was when India was more conservative and social media was not as popular as it is today.
Dimple Kapadia in “Bobby”
Simi Grewal gave such nude scenes in “Mera Naam Joker” which are incomparable today in Bollywood.
His successive films were handled with great sensuality like in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, and Prem Rog.
The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts.
He enacted the role of a tramp in “Awara” and won accolades for his Chaplinesque histrionics. His act of imitating the Legend Charlie Chaplin was noteworthy.
Raj Kapoor was born in Dhakki Munawwar Shah near Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar, then India (modern-day Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) into a Punjabi Hindu family to Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Devi Kapoor. He was the eldest of six children in the family. He was the grandson of Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor and great-grandson of Dewan Keshavmal Kapoor, part of the famous Kapoor family. His brothers are actors Shashi Kapoor and the late Shammi Kapoor. He also had a sister named Urmila Sial. Two other siblings died in infancy. They later on moved from Peshawar into present-day India for residence and for education.
Raj Kapoor attended Colonel Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun in the 1930s and St Xavier's Collegiate School.
At the age of ten, he appeared in films for the first time, in 1935's Inquilab. After acting in several films over the next 12 years, Raj Kapoor's big break came with the lead role in Neel Kamal (1947) opposite Madhubala in her first role as a leading lady. In 1948, at the age of twenty-four, he established his own studio, R. K. Films, and became the youngest film director of his time making his directorial debut with Aag starring himself, Nargis, Kamini Kaushal, and Premnath. In 1949 he co-starred alongside Dilip Kumar and Nargis in Mehboob Khan's hit film Andaz which was his first major success as an actor. He had his first success as producer, director, and star of Barsaat released later that year.
In 1964, he produced, directed, and starred in the romantic musical Sangam alongside Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayantimala which was his first film in color. This was his last major success as a leading actor as his later films like Around the World (1966) and Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) with younger starlets Rajshree and Hema Malini were box office flops. In 1965 he was a member of the jury at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival.
In 1970 he produced, directed, and starred in his ambitious film Mera Naam Joker which took more than six years to complete. His son Rishi Kapoor made his debut in this film playing the younger version of his character. When released in 1970, it was a box office disaster and put Kapoor and his family into a financial crisis. In later years it was acknowledged as a cult classic. In 1971, he launched his eldest son Randhir Kapoor in the family drama Kal Aaj Aur Kal starring himself, his son Randhir, his father Prithviraj Kapoor as well as Randhir's would-be-wife Babita. He launched his second son Rishi Kapoor's career in 1973 when he produced and directed Bobby which was a huge box office success and introduced actress Dimple Kapadia, later a very popular actress; it was the first of a new generation of teen romances. Dimple wore bikinis which was quite unique for Indian films then. In 1975 he acted alongside his son Randhir again in Dharam Karam, which Randhir also directed.
Many of Raj Kapoor's movies had a patriotic theme. His films Aag, Shree 420, and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (In the country where the Ganges flows) celebrated the newly independent India and encouraged film-goers to be patriots. Raj Kapoor commissioned these famous lyrics for Mera Joota Hai Japani, a song from the movie Shree 420:
Mera joota hai Japani (My shoes are Japanese)
Ye patloon Inglistani (These trousers are English)
Sar pe lal topi Roosi (The red cap on my head is Russian)
Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani (But still, however, my heart is Indian)
Raj Kapoor was a canny judge of film music and lyrics. Many of the songs he commissioned are evergreen hits. He introduced the music directors Shankar-Jaikishan and the lyricists Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra. He is also remembered for his strong sense of visual style. He used striking visual compositions, elaborate sets, and dramatic lighting to complete the mood set by the music. He introduced the actresses Nimmi, Dimple Kapadia, and Mandakini, as well as launching and reviving the careers of his sons Rishi, Randhir and Rajiv. He was also famous for making his actresses wear revealing clothing which was not very common in Indian cinema.
A postage stamp, bearing his face, was released by India Post to honor him on 14 December 2001. To honor him, a brass statue of his was unveiled at Walk of the Stars at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai in March 2012.
In 2014, Google commemorated his 90th birthday.
In 1946, Raj Kapoor married Krishna Malhotra, who was his first cousin once removed. The news of his marriage was reported in the cine-magazine Filmindia June 1946 issue as, "Raj Kapoor, the talented and versatile son of Prithviraj Kapoor ended his career of wild oats by marrying Miss Krishna Malhotra in the second week of May at Rewa". Krishna's father was Raj Kapoor's father's maternal uncle. It was a match arranged by the family, and Krishna proved to be a wife and mother in the traditional mold, which is what the family wanted. Krishna's brothers, Rajendra Nath, Prem Nath, and Narendra Nath, later became actors, and her sister Uma was married to the Film villain Prem Chopra.
RK was rumored to have had a longtime romantic relationship with the renowned actress Nargis during the 1940s and 1950s, despite RK being a married man, although neither ever publicly admitted to this. The couple starred in several films together, including Awaara and Shree 420. As Raj would not leave his wife and children, Nargis ended their relationship after Chori Chori and married Sunil Dutt with whom she fell in love after meeting on the set of Mother India (1957). RK is also said to have had an affair with renowned actress Vyjayantimala during the shooting of Sangam. Vyjayanthimala has denied that she was ever involved with RK. She deemed the whole thing a publicity stunt by RK to promote his film. RK has also been linked with the southern actress Padmini.
Both of RK’s brothers, all three of RK’s sons, two of RK’s daughters-in-law, and three of RK’s grandchildren have been active at various times in the film industry. His granddaughter Kareena (daughter of RK’s eldest son Randhir) and grandson Ranbir (son of RK’s second son Rishi) are the latest Bollywood superstars from the Kapoor family.
His film “Awara” featured 3 generations of RK clan -
RK has received many awards throughout his career, including 3 National Film Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards, and 21 nominations. His films Awaara (1951) and Boot Polish (1954) were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His acting in the former was rated as one of the "Top-Ten Performances of all time", by the Time Magazine. His film Jagte Raho (1956) also won the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
In June 2011, Noah Cowan, Artistic Director of TIFF Bell Lightbox, and Sabbas Joseph, Director, Wizcraft along with members of the Kapoor family came together to pay tribute to the life and work of Indian actor, director, mogul, and legend Raj Kapoor, as presented in partnership by TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), and the Government of Ontario. Indian Mirror Reports suggest RK will be inducted onto the Brampton Walk of Fame in Ontario, Canada.
Filmography
Title | Year | Credited as | Director | Notes | Ref. | |||
Actor | Producer | Other | Role(s) | |||||
1935 | Yes | Unknown | Debaki Bose | Child artist | ||||
1943 | Yes | Unknown | M.I. Dharamsey | |||||
1943 | Yes | |||||||
1946 | Yes | Bhalji Pendharkar | ||||||
1947 | Yes | |||||||
1947 | Yes | Madhav (Madho) | Mohan Sinha | |||||
1947 | Yes | Mohan Sinha | ||||||
1947 | Yes | Madhusudan | ||||||
1948 | Yes | Mohan | Mahesh Kaul and Latika | |||||
1948 | Yes | N. M. Kelkar | ||||||
1948 | Yes | Yes | Director | Kewal Khanna | Himself | |||
1949 | Yes | Premendra | Satish Nigam | |||||
1949 | Yes | N. R. Acharya | ||||||
1949 | Yes | Rajan | ||||||
1949 | Yes | Yes | Director | Pran | Himself | |||
1950 | Yes | P L Santoshi | ||||||
1950 | Yes | V. M. Vyas | ||||||
1950 | Yes | Anil | Fali Mistry | |||||
1950 | Yes | Raj | ||||||
1950 | Yes | Chand | ||||||
1950 | Yes | Raghupat Roy Kapur | ||||||
1951 | Yes | Yes | Director | Raj Raghunath | Himself | |||
1952 | Yes | Raj | M L Anand | |||||
1952 | Yes | Raju | B. Trilochan | |||||
1952 | Yes | Rajkumar Saxena | ||||||
1952 | Yes | Raj | ||||||
1953 | Yes | Raju / Swami Satyananand | Chandulal Shah | |||||
1953 | Yes | M. Kumar | ||||||
1953 | Yes | Yes | Raj Raibahadur | |||||
1954 | Yes | Yes | Man asleep on train | Prakash Arora | Uncredited Winner, Filmfare Best Movie Award | |||
1955 | Yes | Yes | Director | Ranbir Raj/Raj Kumar of Pipli | Himself | |||
1956 | Yes | Yes | Peasant | Sombhu Mitra and Amit Maitra | Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award | |||
1956 | Yes | Sagar/Sultana Daku | Anant Thakur | |||||
1957 | Yes | Chiranjeev / Shekhar | ||||||
1957 | Yes | None | Amar Kumar | |||||
1958 | Yes | Ram Babu | Ramesh Saigal | Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award | ||||
1958 | Yes | Raja J. Singh | S. Bannerjee | |||||
1959 | Yes | Ram Das Khanna | Naresh Saigal | |||||
1959 | Yes | Kanhaiya | Om Prakash | |||||
1959 | Yes | Raj Kumar (Rajan)/Himself | Tara Harish | |||||
1959 | Yes | Govinda | ||||||
1959 | Yes | Raj Kumar | Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award | |||||
1960 | Yes | Vijay | S M Abbas | |||||
1960 | Yes | Yes | Raju | Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award | ||||
1960 | Yes | Chhalia | Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award | |||||
1961 | Yes | Rajesh | ||||||
1962 | Yes | |||||||
1963 | Yes | Shekhar | R.C. Talwar | |||||
1963 | Yes | Yusuf/Chand/Khan Sahib | C.L. Rawal | |||||
1964 | Yes | Yes | Director, editor | Sundar Khanna | Himself | Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award nominee, Filmfare Best Movie Award Winner, Filmfare Best Director Award | ||
1964 | Yes | Raj Kumar | Ravindra Dave | |||||
1966 | Yes | Hiraman/Meeta | ||||||
1967 | Yes | Pyarelal | Mahesh Kaul | |||||
1967 | Yes | Raj Singh | Pachhi | |||||
1968 | Yes | Raj Kumar | Mahesh Kaul | |||||
1970 | Yes | Yes | director, editor | Raju (Joker) | Himself | Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award Winner, Filmfare Best Director Award Nomination, Filmfare Best Movie Award | ||
1971 | Yes | Yes | Ram Kapoor | |||||
1973 | Yes | Director, editor | None | Himself | Nomination, Filmfare Best Movie Award Nomination, Filmfare Best Director Award | |||
1973 | Yes | |||||||
1975 | Yes | Dharamchand Jasoos | Naresh Kumar | |||||
1975 | Yes | Yes | Ashok Kumar | |||||
1976 | Yes | Ramdin Pandey | Dulal Guha | |||||
1977 | Yes | Gypsy singer | ||||||
1978 | Yes | Director, Narrator, editor | None | Himself | Nomination, Filmfare Best Director Award | |||
1978 | Yes | Swaraj Singh | ||||||
1980 | Yes | Abdullah | Nomination, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award | |||||
1981 | Yes | None | ||||||
1982 | Yes | Gopichand Jasoos | Naresh Kumar | |||||
1982 | Yes | Advocate Mathur | ||||||
1982 | Yes | Director, editor | None | Himself | Winner, Filmfare Best Movie Award Winner, Filmfare Best Director Award | |||
1984 | Yes | Policeman | John Davies | |||||
1985 | Yes | Director, editor, writer | None | Himself | Winner, Filmfare Best Movie Award Winner, Filmfare Best Director Award | |||
Association with other artists
Shankar-Jaikishan
Shankar-Jaikishan was Raj Kapoor's music director of choice. He worked with them in 20 films in all including 10 of his own films from Barsaat until Kal Aaj Aur Kal. (Jagte Raho with Salil Chowdhury and Ab Dilli Dur Nahin being two exceptions in this period). Only after Jaikishan died, did he turn to a different music director – Laxmikant-Pyarelal for Bobby, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Prem Rog (later on, his children used Laxmikant-Pyarelal for Prem Granth as well), Rahul Dev Burman for Dharam Karam, and Ravindra Jain for (Ram Teri Ganga Maili and Henna). It is interesting to note that Raj Kapoor acted in a movie with music by Madan Mohan only once(twice) i.e. Dhoon (1953) & Aashiana (1952) which featured the duet Hum Pyaar Karenge by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, only instance Hemant Kumar giving playback to Raj Kapoor, and did only one movie with O. P. Nayyar (Do Ustad).List of films with Shankar-Jaikishan: (18 Films)
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Nargis
Raj Kapoor and Nargis worked together in 16 films including 6 of his own productions.
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Mukesh and Manna Dey
Mukesh was Raj Kapoor's almost exclusive singing voice in all his films. Also, when Mukesh died, Raj had said, Main ne apni aawaaz ko kho diya... (I have lost my voice...)
However, Manna Dey has sung many notable and super-hit songs for Raj Kapoor in Shree 420 and Chori Chori. Examples of such Manna songs are best illustrated by the following list:
Laga Chunri Mein Daag" (Dil Hi To Hai)
- "Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo" (Mera Naam Joker)
- "Dil Ka Haal Sune Dil Wala" (Shree 420)
- "Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum" (Chori Chori)
- "Jahan Mein Jati Hoon Wahin Chale Aate Ho" (Chori Chori)
- "Yeh Raat Bhigi Bhigi, Yeh Mast Fizayen" (Chori Chori)
- "Masti Bhara Hai Samaan" (Parvarish)
- "Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh" (Shree 420)
- "Chalat Musafir" (Teesri Kasam)
- "Belia Belia Belia" (Parvarish)
- "Lallah Allah Tera Nigehbaan" (Abdullah)
- "Mama O Mama" (Parvarish)
- "Ye Bhai Zara Dekhein Chalo" (Mera Naam Joker).
Raj Kapoor continues to remain an inspiration and a benchmark for every Indian filmmaker. His films spoke about love, life, and the struggles of a common man. Despite living a lavish life himself, his films spoke of the reality and real suffering of every Indian. Be it Boot Polish, Shree 420, Jagte Raho or Anari, all of his 72 films are an entire library of filmmaking. His last film on paper was Ram Teri Ganga Maili. But his impact on future generations of directors still reverberates.
In my profile, I always mentioned that I am a movie buff and a cricket enthusiast who is to identify with today’s Indian citizens. In India cinema is the staple diet and cricket is Religion. All Indians are crazy about both these entertainments and sometimes movies are thought provoking than mere visuals. My blogs are studded or sandwiched with film personalities both native and international. Sometimes movie reviews also find a place in my writing.
Hence, it is not surprising that Raj Kapoor found a place in JOHNNY’s BLOG as I love both popular entertainments and off-beat movies alike.
Adieu! RK, the doyen of Bollywood. We bow to the true showman of India.
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