Page 12 - Seniors Today - December 2024
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As the long-passed actor and singer Dean fan following in Russia too, where he is
Martin belted out, ‘memories are made of revered even now. When asked about the
this’. reasons for his popularity in Russia, then
Coincidentally, as the Bollywood and a tyrannical communist regime, often
afficionados celebrate the 100th birth it was attributed to his optimism, hope,
anniversary of the inimitable Raj Kapoor cheerfulness, romance, social commentary,
( a part of the famous triumvirate along compassion, distinction between the good
with Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar, who and the bad and all other messaging that
ruled the filmdom roost and regaled the he conveyed through his films and songs.
audience ), one cannot but help recalling Apparently, his song from Awara, “awara
his memorable films and songs, as relevant hoon” was played at the at official Russian
today as in the past, making for repeat banquets and he was permitted a visa-free
viewership that no contemporary content travel to Russia. Perhaps apocryphal, but it
or cinema or song can ever match, even does explain the phenomenon that he was
after 36 years of his passing and 63 years in that country and of course, in our own
of living a life of extraordinary creativity, Bharatmata.
production and direction of outstanding Raj Kapoor was a famed and a delectable
movies. persona, known as much for his affairs and
dalliances as for his Holi celebrations at RK
Studios in Chembur, a lineage of talented
children and grandchildren, nephews
and nieces, most of whom have made
their marks in the industry and keep the
Kapoor family flag high and fluttering. It’s
a travesty of destiny that the imprimatur
of a RK Studio has been recently sold to
a real estate developer with a potential to
erase the memories of the landmark, the
showman and the famed logo of two lovers.
We can only hope that the developers (the
well-known Godrej group) will carve out
some space to house a permanent museum
Just to name the few he directed – Aag, in memory of Raj Kapoor and the rich
Barsaat, Awara, Shree 420, Sangam, Mera legacy he bequeathed to the entertainment
Naam Joker, Bobby, Satyam, Shivam and world and to us.
Sundaram, Prem Rog and Ram Teri Ganga
Maili and some of the near 75 films that
he acted in – Andaz, Anari, Teesri Kasam,
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behati Hain, Jaagte Image Courtsey: constructionweekonline.in
Raho, Chori Chori, Dil Hi Toh Hain, Kal
Aaj Aur Kal, Dharam Karam. He also
carried the epithets of The Showman and
Charlie Chaplin of India and had a huge
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