June 3, 2025: The legacy of Raj Kapoor, the man whose films shaped emotions across generations, came alive at the Raj Kapoor Centenary Celebration 2025 in the capital. “If you haven’t sneaked into a theatre or ‘borrowed’ a few paisas for a ticket, you haven’t truly lived the magic of cinema,” said Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, as he opened the emotionally stirring evening at the India International Centre.
Organised by Respect India, the event titled ‘Shabdanjali: Raj Kapoor – The Idea of Showmanship’ kicked off a yearlong national tribute to the legendary filmmaker. It marked the beginning of a celebration not just of cinema, but of a man who gave post-independence India a new way to feel, hope and dream.
India Pays Tribute to Raj Kapoor’s Timeless Vision
Presiding over the event was Shri B.P. Singh, former Governor of Sikkim, while the Chief Guest, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Member of Parliament, hailed Kapoor as “the cinematic conscience of a generation.” Dignitaries like Padma Shri Dr. Yash Gulati and veteran actor Shri Mukesh Tyagi added warmth and depth with their personal tributes.
Smt. Nirupama Kotru, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, delivered a powerful keynote. She spoke of Kapoor’s compassion for the forgotten, his power to inspire redemption, and the global reach of his storytelling. “A patient in Africa once smiled at an Indian doctor and said, ‘Raj Kapoor’s India!’ That’s how deeply he lived in the hearts of the world,” she shared.
More than a filmmaker, Raj Kapoor was, as Dr. Joshi described, “a moral mirror to a young and evolving India.” His early films like Aag, Barsaat, and Awaara gave voice to a newly independent nation still finding its identity. Through stories that mixed romance with social commentary, Kapoor offered audiences not just entertainment but guidance.
Shri B.P. Singh praised Kapoor’s ability to deliver ethical depth through mainstream cinema. Others echoed similar sentiments. Dr. Yash Gulati reflected on the humanism in Kapoor’s characters, while actor Mukesh Tyagi spoke of the enduring warmth and emotional honesty that defined his work.
In his welcome address, Dr. Nirmal Gehlot, President of Respect India, summed it up best: “This centenary is a national moment of gratitude for an artist who gave India a soul on screen.”
The celebration is just the beginning. Throughout 2025, Respect India will host lectures, retrospectives, exhibitions, and cultural programmes across India and abroad to introduce Raj Kapoor to a new generation, not just as a star of the screen, but as a visionary who shaped the moral heartbeat of a nation.
As the evening concluded, Dr. Joshi left the audience with a thought that lingered in every heart: “Raj Kapoor was not just a filmmaker. He was India’s emotional autobiography written on celluloid.”