As we celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Raj Kapoor, it is but natural to reflect on his contributions that no one else has matched. His legacy continues to shine through RK Studios, which is a symbol of his creativity, vision, and dedication. More than just a studio, it was a sanctuary for learning, artistic exploration, and where dreams came alive.
The following passage from ‘Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work’ by Rahul Rawail, narrated to Pranika Sharma, gives an idea of how deep an influence RK Studios had over Indian cinema. It is in these words that we glimpse the philosophy, artistry, and spirituality that made Raj Kapoor the Showman of Indian cinema.
“That small piece of land in Chembur called RK Studios housed the one man who was the epicenter of Indian cinema – Raj Kapoor. The sanctity of the space the studio offered to learn the craft had me completely mesmerized. It was a revered place that would go on to give me my best experiences and lessons. RK was not only my place of work, but my place of worship.”
The majesty of the studio was breathtaking. Upon entering the visitor would be greeted by an enormous logo of a man holding a violin and woman bent in his arms-a quintessential romance and music of the Raj Kapoor film.
It became synonymous with RK Films and Studios, once ‘Awaara’ had hit the screens, post-designing by M.R. Achrekar and painted by the respected Shri Balasaheb Thackeray, the image was inspired by a memorable scene from ‘Barsaat’, where Raj Kapoor embraces Nargis, who is bent backward in a passionate pose.
This iconic moment was drawn from a painting Raj Kapoor saw in Stuttgart, created by French artist René-Xavier Prinet. The painting shows a violinist embracing a woman bent backward, which was inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s novel ‘The Kreutzer Sonata’, in which the story revolves around a violinist who kills his love in a fit of jealousy.
Under the logo stood a majestic statue of Lord Shiva, whom Raj Kapoor worshipped. His father, the legendary Prithviraj Kapoor, would pray to Lord Shiva at the auspicious beginning of each new film. Though Raj Kapoor followed no particular religious dogma, he had a deep faith in one God and held all religions in high regard as different paths to the Almighty.
