manishk21
I will not repeat the same thing which is already covered by others. Mera Naam Joker I would say Raj Kapoor's one of the finest work in his career. A series followed after Awara, Sree 420, and Jagte Raho. Infect in true senses he expressed his real tribute to himself, his career. Whatever he learned he put everything into this. The philosophy says "the show must go on" who knows more than an actor. So whether he is happy or sad or crying he should always look happy and never show traces of his personal anguish. Personally Raj Kapoor was inspired by Charley Chaplin's work and we get the glimpse in his early movies. His philosophy behind this movie is true and very natural. Lets discuss different stages one by one. Episode IAdolescent infatuation, his thoughts, his dreams are true and I must say everyone must have faced the same situation with his teacher when in school. His point here only depicts how a young developing mind fantasies. His gesture to present his idol joker to his teacher is a very philosophical thought that only a director like Raj Kapoor can think. He repeats the same with other two women and gets it back all the time. Episode IIThis version depicts the young and passionate love of joker Raju. He tried to show a person in this age group does not think anything other than love, he thinks for romance and fantasies. Here too joker loves, dreams and shows his innocent heart. Raj Kapoor gave his life's best performance as a young joker. Episode IIII would say this part was the only reason for the movie's failure. People at that time were not used to see mature love story. It was the time when they were used to see Shammi Kapoor's kind of love stories with young and sweet actresses. Padmini's appearance in the last episode makes the movie relatively dull as she was not a very talented actress rather a great dancer. She was never successful in her career in Hindi movies. However Raj Kapoor acted very well in as mature joker. His philosophy extends in this one. As he shows every one is a joker in his life. Life is a stage and everyone needs to perform his part and continue with his journey. The symbol joker was returned to him thrice as if his heart was given back. His last duologue touches the most when his says his play will not stop here this is just an interval , which may be for 15 min,15 hours or 15 months so please don't go away . He said whatever he wanted to convey from this movie . He tried to prove that from this movie joker's next phase starts and surely after that he never acted in his movies as a hero. He chose his next episode where joker was directing other jokers for his show. Certainly it is his autobiographical work. At last I must say no one can replace a director like Raj Kapoor.
ufaiq666
Raj Kapoor always made movies with passion. This flick was simply one of them. He acted marvelously. The film had won 5 Filmfare Awards including National Award.Acting and Direction:Raj Kapoor's acting is outstanding and direction has no flaws. The young joker played by his youngest son Rishi Kapoor. Rishi Kapoor won National award for his performance. The direction is highly praising. To my mind, no other director in Bollywood could make such long film that entertaining as Raj Kapoor did.Production and Editing:R.K Films spent a lot of money for this film too. Raj Kapoor's editing was also excellent. No dragging scenes at all.Lyrics and Music:Lyrics were fine. Shanker-Jaikishan won the Filmfare Award for best music director. The song "KEHAT HAI JOKER SARA ZAMANA", "TEETAR KE DO AAGE TEETAR", "JEENA YAHAN MARNA YAHAAN", "AAY BHAI ZARA DEKHE CHALO", "JAANE KAHAAN GAAYE WOH DIN". Manna Dey won best playback singer award for AAE BHAI... I loved the music. I think it's still impossible to forget these songs.Cast:Good performances by all the cast including Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra, Dara Singh and Rajendra Kumar.Message:The movie conveys an optimistic message.
pragnabharathy
This film though stretched 3 hours and 44 minutes touches the human heart. Loving a girl next door, singing songs, marrying at the end were routine when this film was made.Raj Kapoor who was famous for his innovative ideas and selection of plots for story aptly chose the untouched Joker as main character of his movie Mera Naam Joker. In different phases of the life he falls in love with different heroines, but always loses his love. This is the novelty in the story.The dialogues like "kabhi mai bhi solah saal ka tha", Raj crying Maa...Maa.. touches the human heart.Let the Film bombed at the box-office, but it was released for more than 30 times in Hyderabad(India)especially at Royal Theatre (Hyd, on all the occasions it ran for 40+ days.I happened to watch this movie on all the releases, but every time the same age-old humane touch touched my heart. Even today, in the mechanical life, If I feel that I am becoming mechanical or going away from the humanitarian feelings, I simply close my bedroom doors, slid the CD in and watch this movie patiently. My heart weeps, my body becomes heavy and in the next morning I fully a human with concern towards my fellow beings.In my life of 40 years I saw many a movie, but none touched my heart at Mera Naam Joker did.I salute the thinker, director and brave producer...Late Raj Kapoor for producing the great movie Mera Naam Joker.
Herag Halli
This is a great movie for people who appreciate films and great film makers-in the caliber of Raj Kapoor. RK banner, probably the single most banner, that stood for quality in Indian Films, so much so, the posters are selling at a high premium! Raj Kapoor, poured his heart and soul in making of this movie, almost bankrupting this flamboyant film Maker. The story is down to earth, one of the best non-fiction tale in the Indian films. This movie failed at the box-office mainly because of the inordinate length, even for the Indian audience of the 70s'. Acting wise Raj Kapoor, Simi Agarwal, Achala Sachdev stand out. Raj Kapoor had his actresses dress erotic and provocative but never vulgar or crude as in the current decadence seen in movies like "Boom" etc. Albeit, the actresses were invariably on the plump side or at least compared to the emaciated looks of current day actresses!Actress Padmini, who starts of with a non glamorous role for an actress, along with Vijayantimala ("Sangam"), were two of the best classical dancers-which an average Westerner would neither appreciate nor has taste for. There were several moments of directorial brilliance as in any RK banner. Young Raju, exposed to the nude teacher, the filming of song "Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan"(sadly, this was the song that was played in Raj Kapoor's final journey, after he collapsed while receiving "Dada Saheb Phalke" Award-the highest honor-bestowed on a film-maker and died of asthma.) These are the scenes only A, Raj Kapoor could do and that made him one of the most beloved director/actor in the World and till this day brings happiness to the millions with his unique talent. Yes, the movie drags with some redundant song and dance numbers but then again, Raj Kapoor had passion for music and the music of Shankar-Jaikishan ("Sangam", "Shree 420", Barsaat", "Jis Desh Mei Ganga Bahti Hai",) was one of the selling point in his films. The duo and 'his soul' the singer Mukesh, never let him down till the end. There is nothing like a bad movie from Raj Kapoor. 'Mera Naam Joker' is not in the league of "Barsaat " "Awaara" or "Sangam" but it had his unique stamp.