Raj Kapoor’s Awaara restored: TIFF 2024 to feature the iconic film in 4K

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will feature a screening of the restored version of Awaara, a 1951 film by Raj Kapoor, in the classics section. The National Film Development Corporation—National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI), which oversees the National Film Heritage Mission, restored the movie in 4K.

Raj Kapoor's family provided film resources for restoration

According to NFDC sources, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, and Rajiv Kapoor provided film resources with the NFAI in 2018, as reported in the Bombay Times. These materials included several of Raj Kapoor's classics. They selected a 35mm dupe negative of Awaara for scanning from this priceless collection after a thorough visual comparison with other 35mm release prints.

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Kunal Kapoor, who has previously worked extensively on the restoration of films produced by Shashi Kapoor, is supervising the colour grading for the restoration. In 1953, Awaara had a Grand Prize nomination at the Cannes Film Festival.

According to a statement from TIFF, this screening marks the 100th anniversary of director Raj Kapoor's birth in 1924. This recently restored masterpiece, considered by many to be the finest film by the finest showman in Indian cinema, weaves socialist reform themes into its musical numbers and tributes to Charlie Chaplin.

Plot Overview of Awaara

In Awaara, Raj Raghunath, played by Raj Kapoor, runs away from home and befriends petty criminal Jagga, played by K.N. Singh, after falling out with his father, a local judge (Prithviraj Kapoor). A tragic tale from Raj's family's past involves his new friend Jagga, and Raj murders Jagga upon discovering this. Since the offence occurred within his jurisdiction, the elder Raghunath will hear Raj's case. Raj gets ready for his big moment with the support of his long-lost sweetheart, a lawyer named Rita (Nargis).

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas wrote the 1951 Indian criminal drama film Awaara, which Raj Kapoor directed under the English title The Vagabond. Shashi, the youngest Kapoor brother, portrays a younger version of Raj's role, while Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, who previously appeared only in a cameo, also makes an appearance. Shankar Jaikishan composed the score for the film.

Themes and influence of Awaara on Indian cinema

Incorporating elements of musical melodrama, crime drama, and romantic comedy, the film conveys socialist principles while also blending social and reformist themes. The story revolves around the intertwined lives of three characters: Judge Raghunath, who is unaware that Raj is his son—Prithviraj Kapoor—and Rita, a rich woman played by Nargis. Raj Kapoor plays the role of the destitute thief. 

Other Kapoor films, like Shree 420, expanded on the character of the pitiful "little tramp" that he plays in the film, which makes allusions to Charlie Chaplin. According to Bollywood legend, Awaara is a watershed moment.

Awaara is available for streaming on Prime Video OTT, ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium), and ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium).

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