Written by Amrita Jambhulkar
National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and National Film Archives of India (NFAI) in collaboration with RK Films and National Film Heritage Foundation will organize a film festival till December 15 in memory of India’s great showman Raj Kapoor. Celebrate the actor’s 100th birth anniversary with a curated lineup of his timeless classics restored in 4K under the National Film Heritage Mission.
Screenings at NFAI are free and open to the public. It has five timeless classics – Anari (1959), Bavare Nain (1950), Teesri Kasam (1966), Jagte Raho (1956), Sangam (1964). Each film showcases a different side of Kapoor’s talent as an actor and director, and gives audiences a chance to relive the golden era of Indian cinema.
Jagate Raho, about a villager who comes to the big city in search of water and gets into trouble. Sangam is a triangular love story that plumbs the depths of passion and romance. Both will be screened on 15 December.
Sri 420 (1955), reflects post-independence India and highlights themes of ambition, morality, and social inequality. It revolves around the theme of greed and forgiveness through the journey of a simple and honest man who comes to Bombay in search of a better life. The film has memorable songs like Mera Juta Hai Japanese and Pyaar Hua Ikarar Hua.
Mera Naam Joker (1970) is a semi-autobiographical masterpiece about the life of Joker and won several awards. A circus clown believes that the show must go on, no matter how much pain lies behind his smile. His life is full of sacrifice, as he hides his pain to bring joy to the lives of others. The film was a box office failure upon release but gained attention for its exploration of love, loss and the tenacity of the human spirit. Boot Polish (1954), also a post-independence film, tells the story of two orphaned siblings Bhola and Belu, who are abandoned by their aunt. They find hope when their neighbors teach them the value of hard work and self-respect. The film won a special award at Cannes.
Kapoor witnessed important chapters in the history of the subcontinent. He was born on December 14, 1924 in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, and was the son of theater and film legend Prithviraj Kapoor. Growing up in the film industry, Kapoor started acting at the age of 10 with the film Inqlab (1935). At the age of 24, he became the youngest filmmaker with his directorial debut Aag (1948). Soon, Kapoor became the face of Indian cinema worldwide.
According to an NFAI official associated with the festival, “The main objective of this festival is to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Raj Kapoor. Our vision is to make these rare films accessible to the public.”
The films selected for the NFAI screening were chosen to complement the nationwide list, giving Pune audiences three additional classics not included in the pan-India list. “It’s not just a celebration, it’s a tribute to a man who defined an era of Indian cinema,” said an NFAI official. Screenings in Pune stand out by offering rare gems like Teesri Kasam in 35mm, a treat for cinephiles.
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