Golden Era of Bollywood: Remembering RAJ KAPOOR on his 92nd Birth Anniversary

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Remembering RAJ KAPOOR on his 92nd Birth Anniversary

Raj Kapoor is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers and actors in the history of Indian cinema.He was born on 14th Dec 1924 at Dhakki Munawwar Shah near Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar,now in Pakistan.

His father was Prithviraj kapoor who was a famous Hero of his time. His brothers are actors Shashi Kapoor and the late Shammi Kapoor.He had three sons Randhir,Rishi and Rajiv Kapoor,all of them acted in Bollywood.

Raj Kapoor's big break came with the lead role in Neel Kamal (1947) opposite Madhubala in her first role as a leading lady.Though Raj kapoor appeared in film for the first time at the age of ten in 1935's Inquilab.He appeared as child artist in many more films after that.He got real recognition from 1949 film Andaz,he co-starred alongside Dilip Kumar and Nargis in that film.

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.

. He had his first success as producer, director and star of Barsaat released in 1950. He went on to produce and star in several hit films made under his R.K. Banner including Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956) and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), the last was directed by Radhu Karmakar, his longtime cinematographer, and which won Filmfare Award for Best Film.In 1964, he produced, directed and starred in the romantic musical Sangam alongside Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayantimala which was his first film in colour. 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 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 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.

In the latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s he produced and directed films that focused on the female protagonists: Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) with Zeenat Aman, Prem Rog (1982) with Padmini Kolhapure and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) which introduced Mandakini.
Outside of his home productions Raj Kapoor also acted in other banners also. His other notable films as a leading actor included Anhonee (1952), Aah (1953), Anari (1959), Chhalia(1960) and Dil Hi To Hai (1963).Teesri Kasam (1966)
Raj Kapoor had 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.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1987 – the highest award for cinematic excellence in India. Shortly after he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Raj Kapoor died, on June 2, 1988, after suffering from complications linked to asthma.
Raj Kapoor’s importance in Indian cinema is unique because of his multiple successes as actor, director and producer, and the social analysis his films offered, particularly in the first half of his career as filmmaker.

I am posting some of my Favourite Raj Kapoor's Songs