KAPOOR,RAJ (1924-88)
Hindi megastar, producer, director and all round showman. Born in Peshawar (now
Pakistan) as Ranbirraj Kapoor; son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Worked with his father as
stage actor, prod. manager and art director. First film role aged 11. Started as clapper-boy a
Bombay Talkies; then assistant director there and at Ranjit (1946). Set up R.K. Films (1948)
to mnkeAftg. Expanded into a full-scale studio at Chembur in Bombay (1950), continuing with
studio tradition into the post-independence period. Screen persona makes repeated
references to Chaplin's tramp, but Kapoor also asserted his delit to Capra (their first meeting is
recorded in Capra's autobiography) and to De Sica (esp. Miracolo a Milano, 1950). The earlier
films, e.g. Awara,Shri 420 scripted by K.A. Abbas, evince a sentimental approach to
social reform, presenting political Independence as a loss of innocence in
exchange for stability, condensed into the persona of the mother/lover as played by
Nargis. With their elaborate sets, fine camerawork and music (usually composed by
Shankar-Jaikishen and written by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri), the films
achieved immense popularity throughout India, in the USSR and in the Middle East.
Although Boot Polish was credited to Prakash Arora, one of his assistants, most of the film's
final version was attributable to Kapoor. Also produced his classic performance in Jagte
Rabo/Ek Din Raatre. Sangam, his first colour film, used locations in exotic Europe.
Became more sexually explicit in the 70s after the box-office failure of his ambitious Mera
Naam Joker, a maudlin epic inspired by Limelight (1951) which took 6 years to make.
Bobby introduced Dimple Kapadia as star opposite Rishi Kapoor. The combination of
sentimenlalism with lush stylisation and steamy sexuality (presented with moral indignation) in
his later work recalls Cecil B. DeMille. Kidar Sharma (1952) described Raj Kapoor as an
example of 'The director with the Cave Man conception of love.' Mahesh Bhatt (1993)
described him as 'An audacious film-maker who displayed the feverish carnality of a
schoolboy in most of his films.' Produced his own directions.
FILMOGRAPHY (* also d/** only d): 1935 Inquilab, 1943: Humari Baat, Gauri;
1946: Valmiki, 1947: NeelKamal, Dil Ki Rani, Chittor Vijay, Jail Yatra, 1948: Gopinath,
Amar Prem, Aag*, 1949: Barsaat*; Andaz, Sunehre Din, Parivartan, 1950: Banwra,
Banwre Nain, Dastaan, Jaan Pehchan, Pyar, Sargam, 1951: Awara*, 1952: Amber,
Ashiana, Anhonee, Bewafa, 1953: Dhun, Paapi,Aah, 1954 .Boot Polish, 1955: Shri
420*; 1956:Jagte Raho/Ek Din Raatre, Chori Chart, 1957: Sharada, 1958:
Parvarish, Phir Subah Hogi, 1959: Anari, Char Dil Char Raahein, Do Ustad,
Kanhaiya, Main Nashe Mein Hoon, 1960:Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Chhalia,
ShrimanSatyavadi, 1961: Nazrana, 1962: Aashiq, 1963: Dil Hi to Hai, Ek Dil Sau
Afsane, 1964: Sangam*, Dalha Dulhan, 1966: TeesriKasam, 1967: Around the
World, Diwana, 1968: Sapnon Ka Saudagar, 1970: Mera Naam Joker*, 1971: Kal Aaj Aur
Kal, 1973: Bobby**, Mera Desh Mem Dharam', 1975: Do Jasoos, Dharam Karam,
1976: Khan Dost, 1977: Chandi Sona, 1978:Satyam Shivam Sundaram**, Naukri, 1980:
Abdullah, 1981: Naseeb, Gopichand Jasoos, Vakil Babu, 1982: Chor Mandali, Prem Rog*,
1985: Ram Teri Ganga Maili 1990:Dhadaka