Awaara Hoon Raj Kapoor's Untameable Musical Legacy

With Raj Kapoor's birth centenary coming up, here's looking at the unmatched musical legacy he left behind.

- Subhash K Jha

The word awaara has many connotations in our cinema. It could mean homeless, unanchored, rebellious, or untameable. But to millions of moviegoers all over the world, awaara is synonymous with Raj Kapoor. The film Awara and Mukesh's song Awara hoon became anthems of brotherhood and peace.

The first musical note that RK probably heard was the wailing sound of his first day on earth.

Born on 14 December 1924, Ranbir Raj was the name papa Prithvi Raj Kapoor had chosen for his eldest son. Little Raj attended school in Dehra Dun. Then, when Papaji Prithviraj Kapoor went to Calcutta to pursue his career there, Raj accompanied his father.

Even the song opens doors for Indians and for Indians in faroff places like Russia and Morocco.

The Showman

It's hard to come across another actor who made as big an impact through the traditional song-form on celluloid. The Showman, as he was rightly called, virtually lived heightened emotional moments through music and songs.