Awara, Barsat and Shri 420 Article Summary

Barsat, Awara & Shri 420-------------------------------------------

In our film industry, that is Bollywood, there is a move to recognize Awara, as an all time most entertaining movie. There is no doubt that Raj Kapur was the most successful producer and director of all times. To make the most entertaining films, he had made his life’s mission. He supervised personally all departments of film productions. Music he had special interest and he had a good ear for folk music which he often used in important sequences in his films. I remember two instances, Ooo Basanti Pawan Pagal---- from Jis Desh Me Ganga Bahati Hai and Na Mange Sona Chandi from Bobby. Long ago he had heard the tunes and he deftly used them in his films. In fact he used some pieces  in his sequences in earlier films. His sessions with Shankar-Jaikisan on music of films were quite interesting. Raj Kapur dedicated himself wholly for the film he was making at the time. He acted in films under different banners equally well. He cared for the films no matter under which banner he was working. Customer is king was his principle from day one of film production. So he tried to make every film very entertaining. But he was an artist par excellence. So there was always a struggle between artist and producer. This struggle is seen  in every film that he produced. Sometimes Raj Kapur had to make a compromise for popular opinion. He made a film Mera Nam Joker to his choice and that film miserably failed on the box office. That shock was unbearable to him but he took it in his stride.

Barsat was the first film under RK banner as its emblem appeared for first time. In music, direction, editing and photography it was excellent entertainment but Raj Kapur gave a message through the film. The message is Love is highest emotion in human life and nobody should ignore Love. So Barasat loses its appeal as pure entertainment. Shri 420 also fails on the same count. Actually Shri 420 is best entertainment of three films. But it also gives a message that honesty does not pay ultimately in this world. Finally in the race remains Awara. In Awara everything including long lost son and kidnapping by a villain is there. Not only that a popular theme favored by Raj Kapur himself was also there in the film. That was confrontation of father and son in court. Father being a judge and son in culprit’s place. Really Raj Kapur was an entertainer Par Excellence. But what is important is Raj Kapur was an eye opener of the best kind. His films with the social messages exceed his films doing pure entertainment. Jagte Raho is a singular example.