Raj Kapoor and the Golden Age of Indian Cinema

Actor, director and mogul Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) was one of the giants of Indian cinema, and is synonymous with the rise of the monolith known as "Bollywood." May 12 through June 28, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring will host Raj Kapoor and the Golden Age of Indian Cinema, a retrospective featuring some Kapoor’s greatest works. The series is co-presented by the Freer Gallery of Art and was curated by Noah Cowan, artistic director, TIFF Bell Lightbox, and organized by TIFF, IIFA and RK Films with support of the Government of Ontario.

Highlights include WHERE THE GANGES FLOW, starring Kapoor himself as a bumbling pilgrim who tries to convert a band of brigands into modern-day Robin Hoods; BOBBY, Kapoor’s charming paean to youth, which stars his son Rishi and tells the story of a young couple who hit the road and are pursued by a zany horde of bounty-hunting bandits; and, GOD, YOUR RIVER IS TAINTED, Kapoor’s final and most financially successful film, depicts the corruption and mendacity at the heart of Indian society and utilizes the Ganges itself as a metaphor for the country’s decline. 

All screenings in the series will take place at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring. Standard AFI Silver ticket rates will apply and AFI Member passes will be accepted. For more information on the screening, as well as to purchase tickets, visit the AFI Silver website at AFI.com/Silver.