[edit]Early life and background
Raj Kapoor birth place at Dhaki Munawar Shah,
Peshawar, Pakistan
Raj Kapoor was born in Peshawar, Pakistan (then
British India) to
Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni (Rama) Devi Kapoor (née Mehra). He was the eldest of six children in the family.
[4][5][6] He was the grandson of Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor and great-grandson of Dewan Keshavmal Kapoor, part of the famous
Kapoor family. Two of Raj's brothers are actors
Shashi Kapoor (a.k.a. Balbir Raj Kapoor) and the late
Shammi Kapoor (aka Shamsher Raj Kapoor); the other two died in infancy. He also had a sister named Urmila Sial.
Raj Kapoor attended
Colonel Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun in the 1930s.He is also known to have studied briefly in St.Danny's High School in Rawalpindi,Pakistan.
At the age of eleven, he appeared in films for the first time, in the 1935 film
Inquilab. After acting in several films over the next 12 years, Raj Kapoor's big break came with the lead role in
Neel Kamal (1947) opposite
Madhubala in her first role as a leading lady. 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 the film
Aag starring himself,
Nargis,
Kamini Kaushal and
Premnath. In 1949 he co-starred alongside
Dilip Kumar and
Nargis in
Mehboob Khan's blockbuster
Andaz which was his first major success as an actor.
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. In later years it was acknowledged as a classic. Kapoor himself regards this film as his favourite.
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 when he produced and directed
Bobby (1973) which was not only a huge box office success but also introduced actress
Dimple Kapadia, later a very popular actress, and was the first of a new generation of teen romances. Dimple wore bikinis in the film which was quite unique for Indian films then. In 1975 he acted alongside his son Randhir again in
Dharam Karam which Randhir also directed.
Raj Kapoor's last major film appearance was in
Vakil Babu (1982) wherein he appeared with his younger brother Shashi. His last acting role was a cameo appearance in a 1984 released British
made-for-television film titled
Kim. He also started R.K films industry.
Main gate of Raj Kapoor's birth place at Dhaki Munawar Shah,
Peshawar, Pakistan
Raj Kapoor suffered from
asthma in his later years; he died of complications related to asthma in 1988 at the age of 63. At the time of his death, he was working on the movie
Heena (an Indo-Pakistan based love story). The film was later completed by his sons Randhir and Rishi Kapoor, and narrated by his brother Shammi Kapoor. The movie was released in 1991 and became a huge success at the Box Office. When he was being conferred upon the
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, where his brother
Shashi Kapoor was also present, the crowd was clapping around when President Venkataraman, who saw Kapoor's discomfort, came down the stage to give the award to the legend in the middle of thundering claps where he was breathing his last breath. And suddenly Kapoor collapsed, and was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment. The country's top cardiologists tried their best, but could not save him.
[9]
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 worldwide. 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. Raj had the knack of getting the best out of any one, since he had mastered all departments of film making and even marketing them.
[peacock term] When
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru died in 1964 coinciding with release of
Sangam, he took the opportunity to create a scene when Gopal ashes were immersed in
Ganges, like Pandit Nehru described in his poetic will. His films reflected the Era in which it was made.
He had a great understanding of the public taste and a great sense of Box-Office. He was one of the pioneers of the Indian cinema, who talked about the potential of Hindi cinema emerging as a great revenue earner from the world market in fifties, which has become a reality today.
[10]- Mera joota hai Japani (My shoes are Japanese)
- Ye patloon Inglistani (These trousers are English)
- Sar pe lal topi Roosi (The red cap on my head is Russian)
- Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani (But still, however, my heart is Indian)
The song is still extremely popular and has been featured in a number of movies since
Shree 420 was released. 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 lyricists
Hasrat Jaipuri and
Shailendra. 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 actresses
Nimmi,
Dimple Kapadia, and
Mandakini, as well as launching and reviving the careers of his sons Rishi, Randhir and Rajiv. He was also famous for making his actresses wear revealing clothing which was not very common in Indian cinema.
[edit]Personal life
Kapoor is also known to have had a longtime romantic relationship with the renowned actress
Nargis during the 1950s.
[citation needed] The couple starred in several films together, including
Awaaraand
Shree 420.
In June 2011, Noah Cowan, Artistic Director of TIFF Bell Lightbox, and Sabbas Joseph, Director, Wizcraft along with members of the Kapoor family came together to pay tribute to the life and work of Indian actor, director, mogul and legend Raj Kapoor, as presented in partnership by TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), and the Government of Ontario.
Indian Mirror Reports suggest Kapoor will be inducted onto the
Brampton Walk of Fame in Ontario, Canada.
[13]
[edit]Association with other artists
[edit]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 until
Kal Aaj Aur Kal. (
Jagte Raho with
Salil Chowdhury and
Ab Dilli Dur Nahin being two exceptions in this period). Only after Jaikishan died, did he turn to a different music director –
Laxmikant-Pyarelal for
Bobby,
Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and
Prem Rog (later on his children used Laxmikant-Pyarelal for
Prem Granth also) and Ravindra Jain for (
Ram Teri Ganga Maili and
Henna). It is interesting to note that Raj Kapoor acted in a movie with music by Madan Mohan only once(twice) i.e.
Dhoon (1953)&Aashiana(1952) which featured duet
Hum pyar karenge by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, only instance Hemnat Kumar giving playback to Raj Kapoor, and did only one movie with O. P. Nayyar (
Do Ustad).
List of films with Shankar-Jaikishan: (18 Films)
[edit]Nargis Dutt
- Raj Kapoor and Nargis worked together in 16 films including 6 of his own productions.
[edit]Mukesh and Manna Dey
Mukesh was Raj Kapoor's almost exclusive singing voice in almost all of his films. Also, when Mukesh died, Raj had said,
Main ne apni aawaaz ko kho diya... (I have lost my voice...). However
Manna Dey has also sung many notable and super-hit songs for Raj Kapoor, for instance in
Shree 420 and
Chori Chori. Examples of such Manna songs are best illustrated by the following list:
- "Laga Chunri Mein Daag" (Dil Hi To Hai)
- "Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua" (Shree 420)
- "Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo" (Mera Naam Joker)
- "Dil Ka Haal Sune Dil Wala" (Shree 420)
- "Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum" (Chori Chori)
- "Jahan Mein Jati Hoon Wahin Chale Aate Ho" (Chori Chori)
- "Yeh Raat Bhigi Bhigi, Yeh Mast Fizayen" (Chori Chori)
- "Masti Bhara Hai Samaan" (Parvarish)
- "Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh" (Shree 420)
- "Chalat Musafir" (Teesri Kasam)
- "Belia Belia Belia" (Parvarish)
- "Lallah Allah Tera Nigehbaan" (Abdullah)
- "Mama O Mama" (Parvarish)
by shri » Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:26 pm
