The birth centenary of the iconic Raj Kapoor — a prolific actor, director and producer — commemorates Indian cinema’s fascinating journey through decades. To mark the occasion, RK Films, Film Heritage Foundation and NFDC-National Film Archive of India are organizing ‘Raj Kapoor 100 – Celebrating the Centenary of the Greatest Showman’, a grand retrospective of his films.
This retrospective will showcase 10 films of Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) and they will be screened from December 13 to December 15 in 40 cities and 135 cinemas across India. The screenings will be held at PVR-Inox and Cinepolis cinemas. On the occasion of this milestone, the price of movie tickets has been fixed at Rs 100 in all participating cinemas.
Films to be screened as precursors are Aag (1948), the rain (1949), a stray (1951), Mr. 420 (1955), keep waking up (1956), The country where the Ganges flows (1960), confluence (1964), My name is Joker (1970), Bobby (1973) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985).
Actor Raj Kapoor in the filma stray‘. (Express Archive)
Considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan filmmakers India has ever produced, Raj Kapoor is affectionately known as “The Greatest Showman”. Son of Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor built a remarkable cinematic legacy through his storytelling and vision. Starting out as a child actor in Inclab (1935) and later establishing the prestigious RK Films studio in 1948, he made his own mark.
His films explored the realities of post-Partition India, the dreams of the common man and the rural-urban divide. Kapoor’s cinema became synonymous with emotion, innovation and humanism. His famous character of the tramp, inspired by Charlie Chaplin, resonated around the world, especially in the Soviet Union. The actor-director was awarded Padma Bhushan (1971) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1988).
Talking about his father’s legacy, actor and filmmaker Randhir Kapoor says: “Raj Kapoor was not just a filmmaker; He was a visionary who shaped the emotional landscape of Indian cinema.” Echoing similar sentiments, the actor Ranbir Kapoor Says: “Our generation stands on the shoulders of a giant whose films captured the spirit of his time and gave voice to the common man for decades. His timeless stories continue to inspire, and this festival is our way of honoring that magic.”