Actor’s 100th birth anniversary: Film festival held in honour of Raj Kapoor, his legacy | Pune News

The screenings at NFAI are free and open to the public. It features five timeless classiscs — Anari (1959), Bawre Nain (1950), Teesri Kasam (1966), Jagte Raho (1956), Sangam (1964). Each film showcases a different facet of Kapoor’s genius as an actor and director, and offers audiences a chance to relive the golden era of Indian cinema.

Jagte Raho, about a villager who comes to a big city and, in a search for water, lands in trouble. Sangam is a triangular love story that plumbs the depths of passion and romance. Both will be screened on December 15.

Shree 420 (1955), reflects post-independence India and highlights themes of ambition, morality, and social inequality. It revolves around themes of greed and forgiveness through the journey of a simple and honest man who comes to Bombay looking for a better life. The film features unforgettable songs like Mera Joota Hai Japani and Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua.

Mera Naam Joker (1970) is a semi-autobiographical masterpiece about the life of a clown and won multiple awards. The 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 others’ lives. The film had failed at the box office on its release but gained attention for its exploration of love, loss and the persistence of the human spirit. Boot Polish (1954), also a post-independence film, talks of two orphaned siblings, Bhola and Belu, who are abandoned by their aunt. They find hope when their neighbour teaches them the value of hard work and self-respect. The film was awarded a special prize at Cannes.

Kapoor had witnessed critical chapters of the subcontinent’s history. He was born on December 14, 1924 in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, and was the son of theatre and film stalwart Prithviraj Kapoor. Growing up in the film industry, Kapoor started acting with the film Inquilab (1935) when he was 10 years old. By the age of 24, he had become the youngest filmmaker with his directorial debut Aag (1948). Soon, Kapoor became the face of Indian cinema worldwide.

According to an NFAI official involved with the festival, “The primary purpose of this festival is to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Raj Kapoor. Our approach is focused on making these rare films accessible to the public.”

The selected films for the NFAI screenings were chosen to complement the nationwide list, offering Pune audiences three additional classics that didn’t make it to the Pan-India list. “This is more than just a festival, it’s a tribute to a man who defined an era of Indian cinema” said an NFAI official. Pune’s screenings stand apart by offering rare gems like Teesri Kasam in 35mm, a treat for cinephiles.