Anari is Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s second film (he would make around forty) and one whose potential Raj Kapoor sensed after seeing Musafir (1957). He proposed that the director move quickly on the next film, in which he would take part. In the end, many of the R.K. Films team joined the film which, against all expectations, topped the 1959 Indian box office. Anari is bolstered by its female cast (Nutan and Lalita Pawar) who lend a highly nuanced emotional intensity to this cautionary tale, which outwardly rests on simple devices. Momentarily freed from his vagabond tramp character, Raj Kapoor gives an exceptional performance that wins him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. JB
SCREENINGS
KATORZA
SUN 17 > 10:00 am, in the presence of Jitka de Préval, author of the essay on Raj Kapoor, Le Maître de Bollywood.
FRI 22 > 1:30 pm
