Showman Raj Kapoor's Centenary B'Day celebrated by Kapoor Parivaar with star-studded premiere of 3-Day RK Filmotsav ! by Chaitanya Padukone

Super-showman actor-film-maker Raj Kapoor's 100th Birth Anniversary (Centenary) of legendary Bollywood was celebrated with super-enthusiasm A special Three-Day RK-centric film-festival (10 curated films in 40 cities in 135 Cinemas) was convened by the Kapoor family in collaboration with two other film-centric institutions, various live RK-music concerts, cheerful RK-centric festivities and activities and fond-tributes by millions of his ardent, loyal fans.  Three times National Awards-winner, 11 Filmfare Awards winner, 'Padma Bhushan' Raj Kapoor was also honoured with Dadasaheb  Phalke National Award in 1987 for 'cinematic excellence'.

Globally acclaimed creative genius Raj Kapoor’s centenary weekend is being celebrated (14th Dec) in India by NRIs and Foreigners in various parts of the world including Russia and East European countries, South Africa, the Middle East, China and Southeast Asia, where he was and is still hailed as the charismatic ambassador of Indian film culture. The East Europeans and Russians still fluently sing the iconic Hindi retro-RK song track  ‘Awara Hoon’ and 'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani '.

Blessed with genius acumen for discovering and casting talented upcoming fresh actors for their debut film-roles (Nimmi in Barsaat, Zeba Bakhtiar in ‘Henna’ and Dimple Kapadia in 'Bobby' ) Raj-saab also had this natural genius-talent for good music. With basic training in classical music, Raj-ji  ( who played the harmonium and dholak and also loved to sing ) generally had his final approval in the selection of his catchy film-song tunes and even the meaningful lyrics.  Which is among the multiple reasons why was he called the Original ‘Showman’. Thirdly,  because besides innovative mounting and classy meticulous production values, the ambitious Kapoor ensured realistic authenticity in his movies. Especially the ‘Chaplinesque’  ‘common-man connect’ in most of his trend-setting musical films. Very often the senior Raj-saab’s on-screen antics and tragic-comic scenes would remind the audiences of the legendary Hollywood  Charlie Chaplin, especially the bumbling, rapid tramp-walk and raising his hat. 

Most of the foreign audiences presumed that modest Raj Kapoor was an excellent ‘singer’ as well and would request him to ‘hum’ some of their favourite retro- tracks.  Almost all the R K repertoire songs not only had catchy tunes, but also philosophical, inspiring lyrics like for instance in ‘Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai’ and patriotic undercurrent as in ‘Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai’.

In keeping with the iconic R K mantra-- The Show Must Go On, the RK luminous legacy has been gloriously carried forward by his talented cinema-savvy celeb-star sons Randhir, ‘late’ Rishi, and ‘late’ Rajiv Kapoor, and the gen-next comprising mega-star-actors Karisma, Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor and latest, of course, celeb-actors Aadar Jain and Armaan Jain Consider myself blessed, that I  had the opportunity to meet the exemplary legend Raj Kapoor-saab (actual birth name Shrishti Nath Kapoor ) several times during his lifetime. Including at his cordial 60th Birthday celebrations held at the R K Studios (Chembur). There was so much I imbibed and learned from him.  Also in due course, I shared a warm bonding especially with Rishi (Chintu) Kapoor and also with Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor. Whenever I visited R K Studios or met them at their parties, I would have a wonderful time with the Kapoors who were all gracious caring hosts. Several times Rishi-jee would drop me in his personal car from Chembur ( R K Studios) upto Bandra West.

In keeping with the iconic R K mantra-- The Show Must Go On A diehard optimist, outspoken by nature, Raj Kapoor never let a flop or personal crisis deter him from going ahead with his next movie ventures. His unassuming nature was exemplary.

Another incident revealed that he never forgot when someone did a good deed. In the early eighties, when he had finalized newcomer actress Yasmin (Mandakini) to play the title role in his under-production movie Ram Teri Ganga Maili, I happened to be on the sets of that movie at Shivaji Park (Mumbai). I was interviewing the other heroine Divya Rana from the same movie.

Later, when Raj-saab saw me conversing with Mandakini, he took me aside and said: “Beta, I request you not to announce my new discovery name in the press ( media) at this stage. I wish to officially disclose it at a later stage.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by E24 Bollywood (@e24official)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Voompla (@voompla)

It was actually a major breaking-news ( scoop)  for me, but I respected Raj-saab’s sentimental request and instantly assured him that I would refrain from doing so. Many weeks later when I happened to meet him at a film event, he waved out and said: “love you, son”. He remembered, that I had kept my promise and it was humble of him to acknowledge it publicly.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Voompla (@voompla)

Although he loved swaying to rhythmic waltz and jazzy songs ( like ‘Dost Dost Na Rahaa’ and ‘Dil Ki Nazar Sey’)  Rajsaab also preferred hardcore folk music, ( as in ‘Mera Naam Raju’  and ‘Jahaan Main Jaati Hoon’) when it came to connecting with the masses. Raj-saab once told me  “ It’s important to have a blend of inspiring yet simple lyrics, melodious songs with foot-tapping rhythms. Also, I try to incorporate chorus portions, in so many of my songs ( like in ‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’) to enable theatre-audience participation in the on-screen chorus which in turn has maximum recall value for such songs,”, Raj-saab had said while having mugs of his favorite steaming filter-coffee with me and a few other guests.

Jiyo hazaaron saal --RAJ-Saab ! ‘Par hum tumhare rahenge sadaa !
##  Chaahenge tumko umra bhar --Tumko na bhool paayenge !’
 The Show Must Go On and will go on and on ’!