Marrying a widow (Prem Rog)

There is something that makes Raj Kapoor films immensely enjoyable. Even if you do not like some aspects of the films--say the melodrama, the OTT quotient or the excessive stretching of the plot, his films do rev up my interest in the happening. What mostly attracts me is the believable social thread that he ties his characters with. His characters are part of a community that suffers from some social malady or the other and through his story-telling method, he strives to drive home a point about this evil custom and how the protagonist struggles and succeeds to overthrow this societal sickness. This process is presented by Raj Kapoor extremely well through his films. They start off as family dramas, but in the folds of the plot, he sheds light on some social custom that needs to be demolished. His films become social commentaries without resorting to pontification. And that is the best part about the RK films. Look at Shree 420, Awara, Jagte Raho, Ram Teri Ganga Maili and the like. If you watch them carefully, you'll know what I'm hinting at.

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Shades of the showman (Shree 420)

Count Ranbir Raj's initiation into the con world complete when with one swift hand move he shows Maya how the honest country lad can don the garb of the smooth Rajkumar of Peeplinagar. In an instant, his eyes look narrower, his lips curl into a devious grin and his adorable face sheds its agreeable quality to attain a roguishly attractive sheen. It is almost as if the bright lights of the rich society of Bombay has affected him inside. The change is not just in his attire. Ranbir Raj becomes a new person altogether. Ready to rob every pocket to better his prospects in this cut-throat world of greed, crime, power and deceit. It is then that Shree 420 comes into its own. Raj Kapoor's tale about an honest and cheerful Ranbir Raj catapults into a drama more entertaining and  enthralling.

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Memory loss (Dulha Dulhan)

In the hullabaloo surrounding Sangam, the first coloured blockbuster produced under the Raj Kapoor banner, one small film got entirely lost. Dulha Dulhan, an obscure film, or rather a not very celebrated venture, is another 1964 romance starring Raj Kapoor that not many of us have heard about. At least, that was the case with me.
A random Raj Kapoor search on Youtube  introduced me to this one. The pairing of Raj Kapoor and Sadhana sounded quite intriguing and I was hooked.

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Into the sea of love (Chori Chori)

Raj Kapoor didn't need to move an inch. His face did it all. When those intense eyes narrow themselves and his lips break into a lopsided grin to say, "Ghum ek kamzori hain, aur main apni kamzori dikhana nahin chahta," not just Nargis is delirious with joy. I too, feel blood rushing to my heart. His nonchalant charm has an alarming effect on my nerves. His casual yet smart demeanour plays hockey with my senses. I get more and more embroiled in the showman's charisma. Gulping down one tumbler of water after another, I sit up to get mesmerised once again by this dashing Kapoor as he entertains with one adventure after another in Chori Chori.

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Fun fable (Teen Bahuraniyan)

Teen Bahuraniyan projects Prithviraj Kapoor in a very different light. As the patriarch of a joint family, he is both stern as well as indulgent. Playing the woolly grandpa Dinanath, this actor is a revelation of sorts. His obesity doesn't hinder his delightful performance in this comic fable about a family and its tryst with false pride.
Kapoor here is old.

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Terrific tramp (Awara)

The first thing that strikes me when Awara opens is how shockingly handsome Prithviraj Kapoor is. Pushing 45, this heavily built man almost reminds me of a Greek God. Playing the obstinate Justice Raghunath, Prithviraj shows why the Kapoors could mesmerise the audience with panache. Every expression is spot on, his booming baritone modulates impeccably, his eyes belie happiness, pain, sorrow and scare with utmost ease and his personality is too overwhelming to avoid. Thank heavens he passed on those brilliant genes to his sons...

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