Mera Naam Joker
Starring:
Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar
Simi Garewal, Manoj Kumar,
Dharmendra, Dara Singh, Rishi Kapoor
Kseniya Ryabinkina, Padmini
Directed & Produced by: Raj Kapoor
Mera Naam Joker is a 1970 Hindi film directed by Raj Kapoor. The screenplay was written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. This film was the debut of Rishi Kapoor. Mera Naam Joker is a film about a clown who must make his audience laugh at the cost of his own sorrows. The film is reportedly inspired by Raj Kapoor’s own life and the clown an allegory for his own life as an actor. Raju is a joker, a clown. It is what he is and what he always shall be. As his life story unfolds in three chapters, from his school days to the circus to the streets, he must always make people laugh and be happy, no matter how unhappy he is within.
Mera Naam Joker is the story of Raju, whose father was a considered the best circus clown ever. Ever since Raju’s father died in a trapeze accident during his performance, Raju’s mother had always been repulsed by the circus. As luck would have it, Raju had a natural affinity towards the circus world. Within the period of his times at the Circus he falls in love with a number of beautiful ladies. He is a man who is heartbroken and earns his livelihood as a circus clown. Great old movie that was very popular, and one of Raj Kapoor’s greatest hits. Six years in the making, with Raj Kapoor investing much of his own personal fortune, Mera Naam Joker flopped at the box office. But in the later years, however, the film has garnered critical praise.
Awards:
Filmfare Best Music Director Award- Shankar Jaikishan
Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award- Radhu Karmakar
Filmfare Best Male Playback Award- Manna Dey for the song “Ay bhai zara dekh ke chalo”
Filmfare Best Director Award- Raj Kapoor
Filmfare Best Sound Recordist- Allauddin Khan Qureshi
