Raj Kapoor's iconic films return to the big screen for his centenary; here's where you can stream them on OTT

To mark Raj Kapoor's birth centenary, a special retrospective titled "Raj Kapoor 100—Celebrating the Centenary of the Greatest Showman" will be held from December 13 to 15, 2024. Organised by RK Films, the Film Heritage Foundation, NFDC, NFAI, and cinemas, this three-day festival will showcase 10 of Raj Kapoor's iconic films across 40 cities and 135 cinemas. This celebration of the legendary filmmaker’s work brings his masterpieces back to the big screen, allowing both old and new generations to experience his magic in theatres. 

Additionally, these films are also available for streaming on various OTT platforms, offering fans worldwide the chance to relive Kapoor’s unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema. 

ALSO READ: 8 unforgettable films of Raj Kapoor 

Listed below are the best of Raj Kapoor's films that are getting a re-release and where you can stream them on OTT.

Aag (1948) - ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

Featuring Raj Kapoor in the leading role, Aag is a musical drama film from 1948. This was the first feature film to come out of Kapoor's R.K. label, and it also served as his directing and producing debut. Kamini Kaushal, Nigar Sultana, Nargis, and Premnath all had supporting parts. Playing a younger version of his character (Kewal), Shashi Kapoor—the youngest brother of Raj Kapoor—made an appearance as a child actor in this film. Raj Kapoor and Nargis would go on to appear together in almost a dozen films after this one.

Raj Kapoor's Kewal longs to start a theatre company with Kamini Kaushal's Nimmi, his childhood sweetheart, but she is unable to join him in this endeavor. But this relationship from his youth lingers in his dreams, and as an adult, Kewal looks for Nimmi in other women. He goes against his parents' wishes and pursues his passion for acting, where he meets Rajan (Prem Nath), the owner of a defunct theatre company. They begin their venture after forming a creative alliance. In Kewal's plays, a homeless woman named Nargis performs the primary role. A terrible love triangle threatens to break them up. Raj sets his face on fire so he doesn't hurt his friendship and mentor's relationship. The fire not only disfigures him but also engulfs the stage, destroying the entire production company.

Barsaat (1949) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]; Prime Video; ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

Raj Kapoor directed the film Barsaat in 1949. The film features Prem Nath alongside the legendary duo Kapoor and Nargis. Nimmi made her debut with this film. Barsaat was one of Kapoor's early critically acclaimed hits. In 1950, Kapoor was able to purchase RK Studios because of its popularity, his second foray into directing after Aag. After overtaking Gyan Mukherjee's Kismet, which had debuted six years prior, Barsaat became the highest-grossing Indian film of its release.

Two romantic narratives form the backbone of the film. The film stars Raj Kapoor as Pran, Nargis as Reshma, Prem Nath as Gopal, and Nimmi as Neela. While on vacation in the Kashmir Valley, two friends, the sensitive and wealthy Pran and the womanising Gopal, conduct affairs with two females from the mountains. The love between Pran and Reshma is genuine and unconditional, but Gopal is a womaniser who treats the loyal Neela badly and tells her to be patient until the rain comes. In the course of their love story, Pran and Reshma encounter numerous obstacles, such as their parents' disapproval, mishaps, and an unsavoury fisherman's effort to coerce Reshma into marriage. At last, the pair is back together. However, Gopal undergoes a transformation and quickly travels to claim Neela, who has been secretly longing for him. Upon his arrival, he discovers that his beloved has passed away. It begins to rain at the end of the film, and Gopal lights the cremation pyre for Neela.

Awaara (1951) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]; Prime Video; ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

Written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and directed and produced by Raj Kapoor, Awaara is a criminal drama film from 1951. It features Raj Kapoor, Prithviraj Kapoor (his real-life dad), Nargis, Leela Chitnis, and K. N. Singh. Part of the Kapoor family appears as well. Shashi Kapoor, the youngest brother of Raj, plays a younger version of his role, while Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, the lone film appearance of Prithiviraj's father, makes a cameo. Shankar Jaikishan provided the music for the film.

The film fuses elements of musical melodrama, crime drama, and romantic comedy with social and reformist issues, and it represents socialist ideals. Major figures in the story include Raj (Raj Kapoor), a destitute thief; Rita (Nargis), a rich woman; and Judge Raghunath (Prithviraj Kapoor), who is unaware that Raj is his son. Characters played by Kapoor, such as the pitiful "little tramp" in the film, allude to Charlie Chaplin and go on to get more screen time in films like Shree 420. Many consider Awaara a watershed moment in Bollywood's history.

After his rich judge father (Prithviraj Kapoor) abandoned his wife amid accusations of adultery, Raj (Raj Kapoor) and his mother moved into a slum. Raj, expelled from school and forced to steal and deceive to make ends meet, develops into a skilled petty criminal due to the influence of the infamous criminal Jagga (K. N. Singh), who harbours a grudge against the judge. Raj reunites with his father and childhood friend Rita (Nargis) as he matures. The case ends in Raj's father's courts when he kills Jagga in self-defence due to circumstances. When they discover their identity, what will happen next?

Shree 420 (1955) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]; Prime Video; ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

Raj Kapoor directed and produced the 1955 comedy-drama Shree 420, based on a novel by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, whose controversial usage of the name "Shree" in conjunction with the negative connotations of the number 420 generated quite a stir. Nadira, Kapoor, and Nargis are the stars of the film. The term "Mr. 420" alludes to Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which outlines the penalties for fraud. The protagonist, Raj Kapoor, is an educated but impoverished orphan who travels to Bombay in search of a better life. Kapoor's portrayal in 1951's Awaara is reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin's "little tramp." Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri wrote the lyrics, and the Shankar Jaikishan duo composed the music.

After moving to Mumbai from the countryside, Raj (Raj Kapoor) discovers that being truthful and loyal do not guarantee success. On the contrary, it appears that being dishonest actually helps you succeed more quickly. Raj gives in to the allure of the carefree life and uses his cunning to make a name for himself. But Raj's ambition to win over Nargis, a moral woman who earns a pitiful living as a teacher, gets the best of him. Is pure love enough to make Raj change his ways?

Jagte Raho (1956) - Prime Video; ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

Written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, produced by Raj Kapoor, and helmed by Amit Maitra and Sombhu Mitra, Jagte Raho premiered in 1956. The film follows Kapoor, a destitute peasant, as he journeys to the city in quest of a brighter future. But corruption and avarice among the middle class quickly ensnare the innocent man. Nargis appears in the film's closing sequence as well.

Raj Kapoor plays a down-on-his-luck rural man who travels to the city in search of work. He sneaks into an apartment block in the dead of night in quest of water but instead gets caught up in a wild game of cat and mouse. As he seeks sanctuary in several apartments, he observes suspicious activities, leading the occupants to believe he is a thief and pursue him. Curiously, these transgressions are being perpetrated by individuals who present themselves as respectable city dwellers during the day but exhibit an entirely different persona when the sun goes down. What options does the villager have for escaping this predicament?

Presented at the 1957 Karlovy Vary International Picture Festival in Czechoslovakia, the picture was awarded the Crystal Globe Grand Prix.

Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]; Prime Video; ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

Radhu Karmakar directed and Raj Kapoor produced the 1960 film Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai. Pran, Padmini, and Raj Kapoor are the main actors in the film. Karmakar, who had worked as a cinematographer on numerous Kapoor films before this, made his directorial debut with this picture. India's box office pronounced it a "hit." 

Kidnapped by a bunch of bandits is the orphaned singer Raju. While there, he develops feelings for the leader's daughter, Kammo, and begins to trust their noble intentions. After witnessing the brutal murder of a newlywed couple, he resolves to report the crime to the authorities. However, the unexpected reaction from the cops gives him the shock of his life.

Sangam (1964) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]

Written by Inder Raj Anand and distributed by R. K. Films in collaboration with Mehboob Studio and Filmistan, Sangam is a musical love drama from 1964 that Raj Kapoor directed, produced, and edited at R. K. Studios. Playing supporting parts are Iftekhar, Raj Mehra, Nana Palsikar, Lalita Pawar, Achala Sachdev, and Hari Shivdasani, while Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, and Vyjayanthimala headline the film. The plot revolves around pilot Sundar (Raj Kapoor), who, upon his return from war, is believed to be dead. Unaware that Radha had been intending to marry his closest friend Gopal (Rajendra Kumar), he marries the woman he has loved for a long time (Vyjayanthimala).

Sunder Khanna is a destitute Indian orphan who has no family. The sole son of Judge Verma and a rich girl named Radha—the daughter of an army captain—is Gopal Verma, and he gets along well with her. When the three of them reach adulthood, Sunder is utterly smitten with Radha, but she and her parents reject him. They think he's dead when Sunder joins the Indian Air Force in an effort to show them he's worthy of their trust. Does he truly exist, or will he return to Radha, his beloved?

At the time, Sangam was the longest and most expensive Indian film. It was also the first Indian film to be shot entirely abroad, in places like London, Paris, and Switzerland. The film delves into topics like love, devotion, sacrifice, and the repercussions of relationship decisions. It shows the characters' struggles and inner agony as they deal with their difficult situations. The film gained recognition as a pioneering work due to its innovative plot and groundbreaking characters. All of these factors greatly enhanced the film's financial success.

Mera Naam Joker (1970) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]

Written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and produced, edited, and directed by Raj Kapoor under his R. K. Films brand, Mera Naam Joker is a romantic drama film from 1970. Raj Kapoor plays the lead role, while his son Rishi Kapoor makes his acting debut as a younger version of his father. The film also features supporting characters from Simi Garewal, Kseniya Ryabinkina, Padmini, Manoj Kumar, and Dharmendra. In this comedic drama, three women who impacted the protagonist's life watch his last performance as he tries to make his audience laugh despite his struggles.

Along with his widowed mother, Chubby Raju leads a modest lifestyle. While attending a renowned school, Raju develops a mild romantic attachment to his stunning instructor. Upon learning of her engagement, Raju surrenders. His mother sells her hand-sewn garments to supplement her income. Raju sets out on a new path, much to his mother's dismay, to become a clown like his father.

This is one of the longest films ever made in India. Sangam (1964) was the first Indian film with two intervals; Mera Naam Joker is the second and last one to this day. The film, loosely based on Kapoor's life, made its way into theatres not long after Sangam became an enormous success, having been in the works for six years and receiving extensive publicity. Shooting took place in Moscow, and the film also featured Soviet actors. Due to the film's length and narrative criticisms, it was a critical and commercial bomb in India upon its premiere, plunging Kapoor into a financial crisis. As time went on, the picture gained cult status and is now widely considered a masterpiece by Raj Kapoor and one of the finest Bollywood features of all time. After much debate, critics and fans alike have hailed the picture as a "misunderstood masterpiece" and elevated it to the ranks of Kapoor's canonical works.

Bobby (1973) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]; Prime Video

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas wrote the 1973 romantic musical Bobby, while Raj Kapoor directed and produced it. The film showcases Dimple Kapadia in her first major role, while Rishi Kapoor, the son of Raj Kapoor, makes his debut. After accounting for inflation, the film still ranks among the top 20 highest-grossing Indian films of all time, and it became the highest-grossing Indian film of 1973. It was also the second highest-grossing film of the 1970s in India. Additionally, it became a worldwide smash in the Soviet Union, where it ranked among the top 20 all-time box office successes with 62.6 million viewers.

In a 16-year-old girl, the daughter of a fisherman, an 18-year-old lad finds solace and love after enduring his affluent parents' indifference and coldness. But they'll have to overcome many obstacles as a couple to win over their parents to their relationship.

It was a groundbreaking film, and many more followed suit because of how popular it was. It popularised an adolescent love story set against the backdrop of a class struggle in Bollywood. This storyline served as the basis for a plethora of films released in the years and decades that followed.

Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]; Prime Video

Raj Kapoor co-wrote and directed the love drama Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). Starring alongside Mandakini is Rajiv Kapoor in the flick, and Ravindra Jain composed the score. Kapoor directed it as his final feature.

The plot revolves around Ganga's quest to find her deserted husband in Calcutta and secure a better future for her son when he leaves her. However, a trick leads her to a brothel.

According to Box Office India, the film was an "All-Time Blockbuster," and it was the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. Not only that, it ranked among the top-grossing Indian films of that decade.

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