Rich Mix

Rich Mix is delighted to present a film season to commemorate the work of Raj Kapoor - the Charlie Chaplin of Indian Cinema - in celebration of 60 years of his work as an actor, producer and director.

Raj Kapoor is one of the best-known screen personalities in India. He acted major roles in over fifty films, produced more than a dozen, and during the course of a thirty-five-year career directed six of the most popular films of Hindi cinema—Awara, Shri 420, Sangam, Mera Nam Joker, Bobby, and Satyam Shivam Sundaram. The popularity of Raj Kapoor's work derives from a paradoxical achievement: he intensified in his films both the lavishness and the social consciousness of Hindi cinema. His films are characterised by elaborate sets, evocative music, new stars, dramatic confrontations, and narrow escapes from heartbreak. At the same time he addressed poverty, injustice and the plight of individuals insisting on their own way against the massive force of social conventions. Indian audiences responded enthusiastically to Raj Kapoor's mixture of entertainment and serious issues; his films articulate at some level the longings of an entire people.

Rich Mix will be showing an assortment of films from Kapoor’s career, such as Aag, Shree 420, Bobby and Mera Naam Joker. In these films and many others, Kapoor deals with important cultural issues and experiences in his films, such as the ruthlessness confronting new migrants to the city, the nation’s people who had been uprooted from their home due to the partition in 1947; to the emerging influence of the West on Indian culture.

Since the time of Raj Kapoor's first films, filmmaking in India has transcended into a greater generic variety and coherence. From the perspective of the new political films, Raj Kapoor's productions seem complacent; from the perspective of the new realist films, his work seems gaudy. Nonetheless, his work is certain to be remembered for its spectacular vitality.

Some of the screenings will be followed by Q&A sessions. These are indicated where applicable.

 

 

Film Programme

Aag

Thurs 6 November, 7.00 pm

India, 1948, b/w, Hindi with subtitles

Aag was the debut of Raj Kapoor’s astounding career as one of Indian cinema’s most illustrious directors. It is “the story of youth consumed by the desire for a brighter and more intense life”.

Kewal (Raj Kapoor) and Nimmi are childhood sweethearts who share a passion for theatre. They promise each other that when they grow up, they will together start their own theatre company. Years later, Kewal revives an old theatre that closed down. One day, a young destitute girl (Nargis) comes to the theatre and begins to act in Kewal's plays, helping to fully bring his dreams to life.

This screening will be followed by a post-film discussion with Randhir Kapoor (TBC) and Kishwar Desai, author of the Darling Ji which is based on the life of Nargis, her involvement with Raj Kapoor and her later marriage to Sunil Dutt.

 

The Tramp / Awaara

Sun 9 November, 2.00 pm
India, 1951, b/w, Hindi with subtitles

Renowned judge Raghunath (Prithviraj Kapoor) sentences an innocent man on the conviction that a criminal’s son would end up a villain. His blind belief is put to test when he is estranged from his wife and son Raj (Raj Kapoor), who in turn grows up to become a petty thief.

 

 

Mr 420 / Shree 420

Sun 16 November, 2.00 pm

India, 1955, b/w, Hindi with subtitles

Wearing torn Japanese shoes, English trousers, a red Russian cap and a Hindustani heart, Raj Kumar Saxena (Raj Kapoor) comes to Bombay to make his fortune. Armed with honesty, integrity and his degree, he finds that his values and beliefs have no worth in a city where the social system allows swindlers or “420s” to make fortunes.

 

Sangam

Sun 23 November, 2.00 pm

India, 1964, Hindi with subtitles

Sunder (Raj Kapoor), Gopal (Rajendra Kumar) and Radha (Vyjayantimala) are three childhood friends. Although Gopal and Radha have always loved each other, Sunder is oblivious to this and always compels his friend Gopal to ask Radha’s parents to let Sunder marry Radha. Radha's parents, however, reject Sunder's proposal on the grounds that he is a drifter and is not capable of supporting their daughter after marriage. Though heartbroken, Sunder decides to go away to join the armed forces and become worthy of asking Radha's hand in marriage.

 

Bobby

Thurs 27 November, 7.00 pm

India, 1973, Hindi with subtitles

Bobby is the love story of two tender young hearts caught in the flush of first love. Raj (Rishi Kapoor), eighteen, just out of school and the only son of wealthy parents, is the lonely, poor little rich boy who finds companionship, love and comfort in the company of Bobby (Dimple Kapadia), a sweet, innocent sixteen year-old. But this path of true love is strewn with too many thorns - social disparity, wealth and adults who have long forgotten the sweet agony of love.

Bobby is the story of how these two young lovers are pitted against a world that no longer understands how love can conquer everything and triumphs.

 

Mera Naam Joker

Sun 30 November, 2.00 pm

India, 1970, Hindi with subtitles

Raj Kapoor’s magnum opus, Mera Naam Joker is a film about the life of a clown who must make his audience laugh at the cost of his own sorrows. Rajoo (Raj Kapoor) is the eternal clown who wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and entertain the world, against his mother’s wishes. It is on his journey to becoming the most loved clown in the world of circus that Rajoo falls in love with a number of beautiful ladies, only to be left heartbroken by their ambition and hunger for success, where there would be no room for a simple man who earns his livelihood as a circus clown.

 

Love Sublime / Satyam Shivam Sundaram

Sun 7 December, 2.00 pm

India, 1978, Hindi with subtitles

Rupa (Zeenat Aman) is a village outcast who is shunned by one and all for being unlucky, because she burnt her face on one side in an unfortunate accident. When a newly-appointed engineer Rajeev (Shashi Kapoor) hears Rupa singing, he becomes besotted with her melodious voice and asks for her hand in marriage. It is only when the two are married that he discovers his wife’s disfigurement and rejects her.

Later, he attempts to expose Rupa in the community when he discovers that she is expecting his child. What will it take to convince Rajeev that real beauty is from within?

This film was the winner of 2 FilmFare Awards, winning Best Music Director and Best Cinematography.

This screening will be followed by a post film discussion with BBC Asian Network’s Love Bollywood DJ’s Raj&Pablo.

 

Love Sickness / Prem Rog

Sun 14 December, 2.00 pm

India, 1982, Hindi with subtitles

This film tells a passionate story of a man’s impossible love

towards a woman who is a widow and of a higher status.

Devdhar is a poor orphan who in his childhood had a magnetic friendship with Manorama, the only daughter of the rich and powerful Thakur. The benevolent Thakur helps Devdhar to go to the city for higher studies.

Now after eight years, Devdhar comes back to his village and Manorama is no longer a young girl. After meeting her, Devdhar falls in love with her, but due to the difference in family status he is unable to express his love for her. Later, a chain of events leads to Manorama being married to a rich and handsome Thakur, but she is then is widowed and returned back to her parental home.

When Devdhar comes to know of the situation, he takes it upon himself to rebuild Manorama's life and bring a smile back to her face. Devdhar was adamant to revive her faith in life and love. Little did he know that in doing so he would have to face the wrath of the powerful Thakurs armed with aged old traditions and customs in their favour.

 

About Raj Kapoor

In 1948 at the age of 24, Raj Kapoor established his own studios R.K. Films and launched his first film Aag, as a director, producer and actor. Starring for the first time with the actress Nargis, with whom he is rumoured to have a long affair, the film did not fare well at the box office. The setback did not stop him from continuing to produce, direct and star in many box office hits such as Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), and Chori Chori (1956). These films established his screen image as “The Tramp” modeled on Charlie Chaplin's most famous screen persona.

In the late 1950s the era of romantic Raj Kapoor movies concluded when the Raj-Nargis affair ended, after she married Sunil Dutt whom she had met while shooting Mother India. Raj returned to RK Studio with a determination to show the world (and Nargis) that he could still make great movies on his own! He was fired up by the true-life story of a schoolteacher in Gujarat, who reformed a tribe of dacoits by education. This became the setting of Raj’s finest movie Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1961) set in the UP badlands.

The success of this film led him to think big. Sangam was a four-hour, Technicolor magnum opus, which travelled the world (Switzerland, Paris, London) and earned him the title The Great Showman of Indian Cinema.

He moved onto directing and starring in his ambitious 1970 film, Mera Naam Joker (My name is Joker), which took more than six years to complete. This semi-autobiographical film was a box office disaster when released in 1970 putting him into a financial crisis. This film was later acknowledged as a misunderstood classic and Raj himself regarded this film as his favourite.

Sensing the importance of youth culture, Raj Kapoor bounced back with Bobby (1973) and sparked a new generation of teen romances which showed the influence the West was having on integration with Indian culture. The blockbuster film launched his second eldest son Rishi Kapoor and introduced Dimple Kapadia. In the latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s he produced and directed films which focused on the female protagonists: Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) with Zeenat Aman, Prem Rog (1982) with Padmini Kolhapure and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) which introduced Mandakini.

Raj Kapoor suffered from asthma in his later years; he died of complications related to asthma in 1988 at sixty-three years of age. At the time of his death he was working on the movie Henna (an Indo-Pakistani love story). The film was later completed by his son Randhir Kapoor and released in 1991, going onto become a huge success.

 

About Rich Mix

Rich Mix is a dynamic, vibrant, cross cultural arts and media centre located in the heart of London, fused with a cultural explosion of music, film, education and young talent. Diversity is at the heart of what we do; whether it be through our film, education and arts programmes, or our numerous tenants; we aim to promote a mixed economy in all that we display and produce. Rich Mix’s overall artistic aim is to have a holistic approach to art and culture drawing on the wisdom and traditions found in the heritage of the local community, with particular reference to BAME communities.

Our autumn season, which runs from September to December, is entitled ‘Highlights and Previews’. It focuses on previously-unseen or issue-based work that is new to London. As part of this, a major highlight is our Launch on Thursday 9 October 2008.

 

Our mission

Rich Mix’s mission is to create and celebrate work from BAME and marginalised communities and to encourage, nurture, grow and explore the cultural and creative talent of all people through a vibrant, dynamic celebration of entrepreneurship, utilising the creative industries and artistic expression as its foundations.

· To build an organisation whose strength is built on a mixed economy

· Developing both established and emerging artists and organisations, with particular reference to those from BAME and marginalised communities.

· To place partnership at the heart of the organisation in order to increase awareness, access and pathways to creative industries and the arts and cultural sectors.

· To promote, produce and deliver a high quality artistic and cultural programme that reflects the shifting demography of the area.

· To place diversity at the heart of the organisation and to mainstream the cultural expression of BAME communities.

· To encourage and provide opportunities and leadership for young people who may have not had the chance to consider the creative arts as a career.

· To provide education and training opportunities working alongside the artistic and cultural programme offered by Rich Mix.

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