Raj Kapoor (Hindi: राज कपूर, , Urdu: راج کپور, Rāj Kapūr, December 14, 1924 - June 2, 1988) was a legendary Indian actor, producer and director of Bollywood movies. He is part of the famous Kapoor family and is the son of Prithviraj Kapoor, and Rama Kapoor, grandson of Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, great-grandson of Dewan Keshavmal Kapoor.
Career
Raj Kapoor is appreciated both by film critics and ordinary film fans. Film historians and movie buffs speak of him as the "Charlie Chaplin of Indian cinema," since he often portrayed a tramp-like figure, who, despite adversity, was still cheerful and honest. His fame spread world-wide. He was adored by audiences in large parts of Africa, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, China, and Southeast Asia; his movies were global commercial successes.
Many of Raj Kapoor's movies had a patriotic theme. His films Aag, Shri 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 the movie Shri 420:
Mera joota hai Japani
Ye pataloon Inglistani
Sar pe lal topi Roosi
Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani
My shoes are Japanese
These trousers are English
The red hat on my head is Russian
But still my heart is Indian
The song is still extremely popular and has been featured in a number of movies since Shri 420. Indian author Mahasweta Devi stopped the show with her inaugural speech at the 2006 Frankfurt Book Fair when she used these lyrics to express her own heartfelt patriotism and debt to her country.
Raj Kapoor was a canny judge of filmi music and lyrics. Many of the songs he commissioned are evergreen hits. He introduced the music directors Shankar-Jaikishan and the lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri. 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 actors Nimmi, Dimple Kapadia, and Mandakini, as well as launching and reviving the careers of his sons Rishi and Rajiv.
Legacy
The Kapoor family hailed from what is now Faisalabad (then called Lyallpur) in the Punjab province of present-day Pakistan. Raj Kapoor was born on 14th December 1924, in Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province of what is now Pakistan. He was named Ranbirraj Kapoor at birth, and was the eldest of the four children of renowned stage and cinema actor Prithviraj Kapoor and his wife Smt. Ramsarni (Rama) Devi nee Mehra. His younger brothers were the actors Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. He also had a sister by name Urmila Sial. In 1946, at the age of twenty-two, Raj Kapoor was wed to Krishna Malhotra belonging to Jabalpur in a traditional family-arranged wedding. Krishna was Raj Kapoor's first cousin once removed, being his father's maternal uncle's daughter. Her brothers Premnath as well as Rajindernath were also actors. Raj Kapoor and Krishna's eldest son Randhir Kapoor was born the following year, followed by their elder daughter Ritu the year after, in 1948. The second son Rishi Kapoor was born in 1952, and second daughter Reema in 1956. Their youngest son, Rajiv Kapoor was born in 1962. Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor have all been associated with the Hindi film industry as actors, directors or producers.
Raj Kapoor is also known to have had a longtime romantic relationship with the renowned actress Nargis Dutt during the 1950s. The couple starred in several films together, including Awaara and Shri 420.
Noted film personalities Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor are the granddaughters of Raj and Krishna Kapoor, being the daughters of their eldest son Randhir Kapoor by his wife Babita.
Personal life
Association with other artistsList of films with Shankar Jaikishan
Shankar Jaikishan were his music director of choice. He worked with them in 20 films in all including 10 of his own films from Barsaat till Kal Aaj Aur Kal. (Jagte Raho with Salil Choudhury and Ab Dilli Dur Nahin being two exceptions in this period). Only with Bobby did he turn to Laxmikant Pyarelal.
Barsaat (1949)
Aah (1953)
Awaara (1951)
Boot Polish (1954)
Shree 420 (1955)
Chori Chori (1956)
Anari (1959)
Kanhaiya (1959)
Main Nashe Men Hoon (1959)
Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960)
Aashiq (1962)
Ek Dil Sao Afsane (1963)
Sangam (1964)
Teesri Kasam (1966)
Around the World (1967)
Diwana (1967)
Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968)
Mera Naam Joker (1970) Shankar Jaikishan
Nargis and he worked together in 16 films including 6 of his own productions.
Aag (1948)
Andaz (1949)
Barsaat (1949)
Pyaar (1950)
Jan Pahchan (1950)
Awaara (1951)
Amber (1952)
Anhonee (1952)
Ashiana (1952)
Bewafa (1952)
Aah (1953)
Paapi (1953)
Dhoon (1953)
Shree 420 (1955)
Chori Chori (1956)
Jagte Raho (1956) Nargis
Mukesh was Raj Kapoor's singing voice in all of his films.
Mukesh
Awards, honours and recognitions
Raj Kapoor had been nominated for 18 Filmfare awards in all. [1]
1985 - Winner Best Movie for Ram Teri Ganga Maili
1985 - Winner Best Director for Ram Teri Ganga Maili
1982 - Winner Best Movie for Prem Rog
1982 - Winner Best Director for Prem Rog
1980 - Nominated Best Supporting Actor for Abdullah
1978 - Nominated Best Director for Satyam Shivam Sundaram
1973 - Nominated Best Director for Bobby
1973 - Nominated Best Movie for Bobby
1970 - Winner Best Director for Mera Naam Joker
1970 - Nominated Best Movie for Mera Naam Joker
1964 - Nominated Best Actor for Sangam
1964 - Winner Best Director for Sangam
1964 - Winner Best Movie for Sangam
1960 - Winner Best Actor for Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1960 - Nominated Best Actor for Chhalia
1959 - Winner Best Actor for Anari
1958 - Nominated Best Actor for Phir Subha Hogi
1956 - Nominated Best Actor for Jagte Raho Filmfare Awards
1964 - Winner Best Director for Sangam [2]
1964 - Winner Best Editor for Sangam [3]
1967 - Winner Best Actor for Teesri Kasam [4][5]
1971 - Winner Best Actor for Mera Naam Joker [6]
1971 - Winner Best Director Mera Naam Joker [7] Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards
Raj Kapoor had been conferred with a "National Award" for cinematography for contribution to Indian cinema. [8]
In 1971, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award from the Government of India.[9]
In 1987, he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award for cinematic excellence [10]
On January 8, 2001, he was honoured with the "Best Director of the Millennium" award by Hero Honda-Stardust [11]
In 2002, he was named "Showman of the Millennium" by Star Screen Awards[12] National honours and recognitions
Raj Kapoor was nominated for the 1953 Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival for Awaara
In 1955, he was conferred with an honoury degree in Tehran. [13]
An Raj Kapoor Film Festival was held on his 75th Birth Anniversary at the Cultural Centre of Russia on 17th January, 2000. [14]
The 55th Cannes International Film Festival, which was held from May 16-26, 2002, comprised a Raj Kapoor Retrospective as a tribute to the showman. [15] [16]
The prestigious Centre George Pompidou in Paris was hosting an important 3-month long festival of popular Indian Cinema from February to April 2004, dedicated to five great Indian film personalities: Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Mehboob Khan, Bimal Roy and V. Shantaram. [17] International honours and recognitions
Selected Filmography
Kim (TV film) (1984)
Vakil Babu (1982)
Gopichand Jasoos (1982)
Abdullah (1980)
Naukri (1979)
Chandi Sona (1977)
Do Jasoos (1975)
Dharam Karam (1975)
Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971)
Mera Naam Joker (1970)
Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968)
Diwana (1967)
Teesri Kasam (1966)
Sangam (1964)
Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960)
Chhalia (1960)
Main Nashe Men Hoon (1959)
Chori Chori (1956)
Jagte Raho (1956)
Shree 420 (1955)
Aah (1953)
Awaara (1951)
Pyaar (1950)
Sargam (1950)
Andaz (1949)
Barsaat (1949)
Aag (1948)
Neel Kamal (1947)
Inquilab (1935)
