NYC's MoMA hosts Raj Kapoor film festival
Raj Kapoor, known as the Great Showman, is regarded as the father of Indian cinema. He was one of the biggest Indian movie stars of the decade following India's independence and also a director and producer. He started his own production company, R.K. Films, in 1948. He was known for his tramp screen persona, and his films explored themes of socialism, patriotism, Indian identity in a globalizing world, and social barriers to love. His films were wildly popular in the former Soviet Union.
Kapoor had a long romantic relationship with his frequent co-star, Nargis, a renowned actress. His performance in Awaara (1951), opposite Nargis, was ranked by Time magazine as one of the "Top 10 performances of all time."
The films to be shown by MoMA include Aag (1948), Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Meera Nam Joker (1970), and Bobby (1973).
Kapoor (1924-1988) was the son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, and he is the patriarch of a film dynasty that dominates Bollywood to this day—his brothers, Shammi and Shashi; his sons, Rishi, Randhi, and Rajiv; his granddaughters, Karisma and Kareena; and his grandson, Ranbir.
For more information about the film series, visit moma.org or call (212) 708-9400.
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January 7, 2012
