As Bollywood and film enthusiasts in India and the world over celebrate the centenary of the legendary filmmaker, actor, director and writer Raj Kapoor, with screenings scheduled to take place from December 13 to 15 across 40 cities, one question that comes to mind is what kind of content would he have made, had he been alive in today's time and age?
Would his films reflect his passion for storytelling, social commentary, and showcasing the human condition? Would his filmography be based on diverse themes that dominate our discourse in today's times? We'd have loved to see his take on social issues that have plagued society, for instance, LGBTQ+ rights and mental health issues. What about climate change? Add to this, the many romantic dramas he'd have loved to experiment with in the realms of online dating as we see it today - imagine his lead actor and his love interest catching up on a blind date and they mutually discover their love for Salsa! Given his love for exploring complex relationships and love triangles via romantic dramas, one wouldn't be surprised if he incorporated Gen Z elements like the DINK (double income no kids) couples and their relationship with traditional family structures at the centre of his narratives.
His treasure trove of ideas for biopics and historical dramas would be well fed at all times and for those unsung heroes of history, Kapoor might have created modern musicals including fusion and contemporary, given his legendary taste in music, which generations continue to enjoy to date.
Although we can only contemplate what kind of films Raj Kapoor would make today, based on his legacy and filmography, his films would likely continue to be thought-provoking and resonant.
But going by his cinematic style, one can also be sure that he might definitely not have liked mindless masala films that show excessive violence and unnecessary gore. So maybe Mirzapur, Kuttey, and the like would cringe. The same may be (Kabir Singh or Animal) both of which objectify women and perpetuate gender stereotypes. Additionally, Rohit Shettys of Bollywood (Golmaal, Housefull) would fall in this category because the ace Showman was much beyond repetitive, formulaic and predictable storylines that lack depth and authentic storytelling at the core
Loads of academic journals and university classrooms have tried to decipher the Showman and his sensibilities and his brilliance in filmmaking, especially the place women occupied in his filmmaking as a whole. Examining Kapoor's career of "the legendary Bollywood filmmaker of the postwar decades," Geoffrey Jones, faculty from Harvard Business School, writes in a paper, titled, 'Raj Kapoor: The Socialist Showman,' - "how Kapoor built RK studios after 1948 by releasing a series of movies that combined romance with social messages focused on the fate of the common man in a world of social injustice. The case discusses how women were depicted in Kapoor’s films and enables a discussion of the role of cinema in propagating gender stereotypes and contributing to the challenges faced by women in rural India today."
His films return to Indian screens this weekend as part of the RK Film Festival. PVR and Film Heritage Foundation are re-releasing his cult films to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary this year.