Born in December 1924, Raj Kapoor was a profound actor in Hindi cinema. He was also a director and film producer. He was bestowed the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the Government of India.
In 1988, Raj Kapoor suffered complications due to Asthma and died on June 2 at the age of 63. However, his legacy has lived on. Some of the greatest performances of the legend include Awaara, Mera Naam Joker, Shree 420, Anari, Dastan and Boot Polish.
He was titled ‘The Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema’ because of his performances. His work was appreciated in Central Asia, South Asia and South-East Asia.
On his death anniversary, we would like to reminisce him through one of his most ambitious films, Mera Naam Joker, released in 1970. Let’s review!
Plot
Image Courtesy: Amazon.com
Mera Naam Joker is one of the longest movies in Hindi. It starts with a teenage Raju, played by Rishi Kapoor. He came from a poor background and fell for his teacher.
He grew up to become a joker, just like his father. He came across several women who took advantage of him and his generosity. He kept helping and supporting people in their hour of need. He also faced betrayal with a smile on his face.
Towards the end, he puts up a show and sings - ‘Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan’. The song is famous today. He announced his intermission while affirming the audience that he would be performing. The movie ends with - Positively Not The End’.
Cast
Aside from Raj Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor, the film had a huge cast with renowned names of the era. It included Dara Singh, Simi Garewal, Padmini, Rajendra Kumar, Rajendra Nath, Kseniya Ryaninkina, Dharmendra, Achala Sachdev, Om Prakash, Manoj Kumar and more.
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Raj Kapoor Under Financial Crisis
Image Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama
Upon release, Mera Naam Joker was a flop in India. Its long length and the emotionally tightening plot did not grab the enthusiast of the audience. Soon it was reported as a commercial and critical failure.
Later, it became a cult classic and is one of the best films (Bollywood films set in New York) of the Late Raj Kapoor. Because of the failure of this movie at the box office, Raj Kapoor faced a financial crisis. In 2019, RK Studio caught fire. It destroyed the masks and costumes worn by Raj Kapoor and other characters in Mera Naam Joker. It included preserved pieces of movies that were released under the banner.
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Mera Naam Joker Hit At The Soviet Union
Mera Naam Joker was not only released in India. According to old reports, its distribution rights were sold at ₹15,00,000 in the Soviet Union. Russian critics delivered mixed reviews, but the film was soon declared a commercial blockbuster hit. The total amount collected at the Soviet box office was around thousands of crores.
A lot of us were born when Raj Kapoor was no longer in the world. But we know him by the giant legacy that he left behind. We know him through his characters and films. We are grateful for all he has contributed to the world of cinema. Stay tuned to HerZindagi for more such stories!