India-China to create the theatre version of 'Awaara'

| PTI | Jan 29, 2017, 03:12 IST

Bollywood filmmaker Raj Kapoor's 1951 classic 'Awaara' is set for... Read More

Bollywood filmmaker Raj Kapoor's 1951 classic '

Awaara

' is set for a theatrical reboot, according to an agreement signed today between India and China.

The film was a huge success in China, and its song 'Awaara Hoon' and Kapoor became widely known across the nation. The agreement is aimed at recreating the film's magic.

It is aimed at recreating the 1951 Raj

Kapoor

's popular movie 'Awaara', which struck a chord with generations of Chinese, India and China today signed an agreement to make a theatrical version of the film.

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Raj Kapoor's advice to Bhagwan Dada

The agreement was incorporated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between

Indian Council of Cultural Relations

, (ICCR) andChina Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF), Indian Consul General in Shanghai Prakash Gupta told PTI.

The MOU between ICCR and CSIAF which was signed today in Shanghai calls for cultural performances to be organised in India and China during 2017 and 2018.

The agreement was signed coinciding with the visit Amarendra Khatua, Director General of the ICCR to Shanghai to take part in the 18th China Shanghai International Arts Festival, which commenced yesterday.

Khatua emphasised on the longstanding bilateral cultural exchanges between India and China and called for increasing greater cultural exchanges, in particular in Tier-II and Tier-III cities in India and China, respectively.

As part of the MoU, both sides also attempt to make a joint theatrical re-production of 'Awaara', which would be set in contemporary times and re-enacted as a theatre version for viewing by contemporary audiences worldwide including India and China, Gupta said.

The theatre version of the movie will be co-financed by both the ICCR and CSIAF.

'Awaara' remained the most popular Indian movie in China in the last six and half decades between generations of Chinese, especially its title song 'awaara hu' which local sing as 'awaala hu' as letter R is absent in Mandarin.

But the movie and the song has lost traction with the present younger generation of Chinese as it faded out of the memory of Chinese. Recent Indian movies like '3 Idiots' made some impact on the younger generation but not to the extent, 'Awaara' did.

So, the theatre version will aim to bring that connectivity, Gupta said. The production was expected to be ready in an year.

Listen to the songs of Awaara on Gaana.com

Officials from both the countries hope that the 'Awaara' will again reignite the vigour in the Sino-Indian relations which currently faced headwinds over a host of issues relating to China's reluctance to back India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, (NSG) and its technical hold in the UN to ban Masood Azhar, leader of the Pakistan based extremist group, JeM.

The agreement was signed ahead Chinese President, Xi Jinping's visit to India this week to take part in the BRICS summit in Goa where he is due to meet Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on its sidelines.

Happy Birthday Karisma Kapoor!

Right from Prithviraj Raj Kapoor to Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and now to Ranbir Kapoor - the Kapoors have undoubtedly been the flag bearers of the showbiz in the Indian entertainment industry. Among them, the two shining stars who broke from the mould of patrilineal lineage were Karsima Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor - daughters of Bollywood veterans Randhir Kapoor and Babita. And between the Kapoor sisters, role of Karisma in establishing an indelible mark of a new age Bollywood heroine has been immense. On her birthday, we present a pictorial journey.

This green-eyed beauty was born on 25th June 1974 in the illustrious Kapoor Khandaan of Bollywood. Karisma aka Lolo has done more than 70 films in her career of over two decades in the industry.

Granddaughter of renowned actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor and great-granddaughter of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, Karishma was born to actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita. Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. She later studied in Sophia College in Mumbai.

Karisma Kapoor's father Randhir married actress Babita on 6 November 1971 when he was just 24 after co-starring with her in Kal Aaj Aur Kal, as the couple fell in love during the shooting of this film. Before the marriage took place, his to-be wife agreed to leave acting as a profession to abide by the Kapoor traditional views that woman should not get involved in acting.

But destiny had other plans for Babita's two daughters. Karisma, as a kid used to accompany her parent at filmi award functions and she was clearly besotted by the showbiz glitterati. Moreoever, Babita, who too was once a promising actress but who gave up her career for the sake of tradition took a bold step to let her daughters become actresses and one would not deny the fact that the good looks of Karisma and Kareena is all thanks to their mother Babita.

Young Karisma seen here with her little sister Kareena. The two girls were very fond of each other and still share a fantastic rapport as siblings.

A family portrait of Karisma at a very young age with her mom, dad and little sister Kareena.

Karisma happens to be the 5th in line of generation of filmstars from the Kapoor Khandaan - right from her great great grandfather Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor to great grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor to grandfather Raj Kapoor to dad Randhir Kapoor! Seen here is an old pic of herself with the greatest showman ever Raj Kapoor.

During her career, Kapoor has received one National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards, among six nominations.

In addition to acting in films, Kapoor has played the leading role in the television series, Karishma - The Miracles of Destiny (2003) and has also featured as a talent judge for the reality shows, Nach Baliye.

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