Awara, undoubtedly Raj Kapoor’s best-known film and hugely successful in the Soviet Union, the Arab world and further afield, takes melodrama at face value. The film stands as a milestone in those directed by Raj Kapoor for at least three reasons. To begin with , it is the first he shot in his studios at R.K. Films. Next, because it is the first time he appears with Nargis in their legendary on-screen duo (they went on to make fifteen more films together). Lastly, because it was originally scripted by K. A. Abbas, a screenwriter with a penchant for neo-realism, for Medhood Khan (Mother India) – he presented the screenplay to Raj Kapoor who had just marked up a huge success with Barsaat. This should rightfully be called a masterpiece. JB
SCREENINGS
LE CINÉMATOGRAPHE
SAT 16 > 7:45 pm, in the presence of Vijay Singh, author and director
KATORZA
MON 18 > 2:00 pm
