Documentary unveils Raj Kapoor’s Kolkata roots and untold stories

KOLKATA: Not too many in Kolkata know that the young boy, Shrishti Nath Kapoor, who resided in Bhowanipore and pursued his education at Mitra Institution, went on to become the illustrious Raj Kapoor of Indian cinema.
His classroom remains the way it was, and the room where he stayed during his brief Kolkata stint is also intact. On Kapoor's centennial year, a 50-minute documentary titled ‘Painted Memories: Calcutta Connects Raj Kapoor' is being made to unveil previously undisclosed anecdotes about the legend's life, including his debut as a child artist in Debaki Kumar Bose's ‘Inquilab'.
One such anecdote involves how Kapoor donated a cheque of Rs 25,000 during the 75th year of Mitra Institution. "He was a student of Mitra Institution between 1935 and 1939. In our school, he was then known as Shrishti Nath Kapoor. On the 75th year of our institute, he sent across a cheque to his alma mater. In our memorial brochure, his name is also mentioned as one of our distinguished alumni," said Raja Dey, headmaster of Mitra Institution (Bhowanipur branch).
Director Jaydip Mukherjee's film is trying to relive the era when Kapoor was a student there. "My idea is not to make a biopic but to connect dots between Raj Kapoor and other Bengali legends from Kolkata who worked with him in Mumbai. Nirmal Dhar and Sajal Dutta, the resource persons for my film, have helped me. We have been able to trace his Kolkata links with Salil Chowdhury, Manna De, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Hemanta Mukherjee, Sambhu Mitra, Tripti Mitra, and Radhu Karmakar," Mukherjee said.

Another extensive shooting happened at the Mudiali residence of legendary director Debaki Bose, with whom Prithviraj Kapoor had a great rapport after he settled in Kolkata from Peshawar. "Through Debaki Bose's grandson, Debashis, I came to know that Prithviraj Kapoor acted in a play called ‘Seeta' which Tagore loved and suggested that a cinematic adaptation of the play be directed by his friend, Debaki Bose. The latter agreed, and a film was made in 1933 that starred Prithviraj Kapoor and Durga Khote," Mukherjee said.
‘Seeta' was the first Indian film to win an award at an international film festival, recalled Debashis Bose. Though the Bose residence has been renovated, the terrace where the ‘Seeta' director and actor would sit for hours discussing Indian films and its future still remains. "My father, National Award-winning director Debkumar Bose, narrated stories of their visit to our residence. Raj Kapoor would play cricket on the ground floor corridor of our house. We still have the room on the third floor where Prithviraj Kapoor stayed with his family when he came down from Mumbai. Our dining table could accommodate only six. When the Kapoors came, everyone sat on the white marble-floored corridor to have their meals," Debashis said. When Rishi Kapoor penned his autobiography, he acknowledged the Boses' contribution, too. "It was gratifying to notice how he articulated that it was owing to Debaki Kumar Bose that the Kapoor family is what it is today!" Debashis said.