A Tribute To The Greatest "Showman" of Bollywood: Raj Kapoor
|By- Ajay Tomar|
It was his death anniversary on 2nd June. The Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor has left a legacy behind that rarely any artist does. This #ThrowbackThursday, we decided to tell you all his story of success.
Whenever someone mention Bollywood’s royalty, the first family comes in mind is the very famous "Kapoor Khaandan". This family has dedicated their whole lives to Bollywood. From generations to generations this clan has given many memorable gems to showbiz. From the Kapoor clan "Raj Kapoor" who is hailed as the greatest showman of all time in Indian cinema is one of the finest filmmaker and actor of Indian cinema that country has ever seen. He was the actor the rest of the film industry pointed to and looked up to as far as becoming a successful actor goes. He was someone who had great cinematic vision.
He brought the stories that appealed to masses, with pinch of youth added. He was the visionary mind behind Cult Classics like - "Mera Naam Joker, Shree 420, Awaara, Sangam and Barsaat." If you're a movie freak then you must watch out Bollywood old black and white classics of this legend. Under his banner R.K. Studios, he made movies like: "Bobby, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti hai, Shree 420 and Awaara Etc.”
The studio’s first venture ‘Aag’ (1948) was a commercial failure, ‘Barsaat’ (1949) was the first hit film produced by the studio. The company’s logo was inspired by a scene from the film ‘Barsaat’ where Raj Kapoor and Nargis are holding a violin. Raj Kapoor and Nargis This on-screen pair will be remembered for as long as the Hindi film industry lives.
Mera Naam Joker was his dream project. It took him 6 years to complete it. For the film he mortgaged everything he had, he spent millions but unfortunately when it come out in 1972 it was catastrophic flop. Even though he lost everything he earned it back with his subsequent films.
But, this film holds the title of one of greatest cinematic creation of Bollywood. He was basically considered as Father Of Filmmaking and acting and as the Clark Gable Of India. During his lifetime, he won 9 Filmfare and 2 national awards.
Also, because of his tremendous contribution in Indian cinema he was honored with Padma Bhushan as well as the Dada Saheb Phalke Award by the government of India. His movie ‘Sangam" stud was popular worldwide, especially in Russia. There's no surprise why he is considered as the first international superstar of Indian cinema.
He was very popular worldwide, especially in Russia. Raj Kapoor was working on his film "Mera Naam Joker" and was in talks with Russian circus troupe to be part of the film. The legendary actor was in London and had to be in Moscow, Russia (which was then the Soviet Union.) He landed in Moscow with a thought that he had the visa. “But in reality, he didn’t have a visa to come into Moscow. But still, they welcomed Raj Kapoor… there was no welcome committee for him because he landed unannounced. So he got outside and waited for a taxi. His taxi came and he sat in. Suddenly what he saw was that the taxi is not moving forward and instead is going up. By then people started recognizing that Raj Kapoor is in Moscow. He became popular after his famous movie 'Aawara' was released there. The Russians loved it so much that when they saw Raj Kapoor in Russia, a crazy mob lifted his Taxi on their Shoulders." said the late Rishi Kapoor (His Son And legendary Bollywood Actor) at an event. That was his craze that time.
Raj Kapoor is appreciated by both film critics and movie fans. Film historians and movies buffs speak of him as the "Charlie Chaplin" of Indian cinema. He brought a long-lasting vision through his movies. Whenever we talk about the cult classics the movies comes first in our minds are related to him. He was, he is and he'll remain as the most important personality of world cinema. He was a passion, a way of life, a religion. He breathed films and lived only in the world of films.
However, his artistic legacy will always be with us, safe in all the wonderful, magical films he made and the ones which he made and acted in. He And His R.K Studio’s legacy left all of us years ago But He is always with us in his is work and as the song in Mera Naam Joker says, “Jeena Yahan, Marna Yahan, Iske Siwaa Jaana Kahaan”.
The term ‘Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema’ is and will always be associated with Raj Kapoor only.
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