In a warm gesture of welcome to Indian Cinema on Friday 24th June, the City of Brampton in Ontario, Canada, hosts of the 12th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards, named a street after the ultimate Showman – Raj Kapoor. Introducing a new street into the infrastructure of the city, when constructed it will be named, the ‘Raj Kapoor Crescent’.
The legacy of Raj Kapoor has been succeeded by three generations starting with Shammi, Shashi and Raj, the sons of Prithviraj Kapoor. Raj’s sons Randhir, Rishi and Rajiv Kapoor enjoyed success in the industry and his grandchildren Ranbir, Kareena and Karishma Kapoor have subsequently carried on the Kapoor tradition of brilliant artistry and super stardom. Several members of the Kapoor Family were present at the street naming ceremony. The family shared sentiments regarding the retrospective expressing gratitude towards the city at this incredible gesture.
The Mayor of Brampton was also present at the ceremony that took place on the main stage of Rose Theatre on 24th June, the 2nd day of the Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend, expressing the city’s commitment to honouring the cinematic genius. A replica of the street sign was also presented to the family.
With a career spanning over five decades, Raj Kapoor achieved great success and became the youngest director of his time at age 24 when he opened his own studio, RK Films. Aptly called ‘The Showman’, Raj Kapoor won a large number of awards and was nominated for the ‘Palme D’or’ at the Cannes Film Festival which is the highest honour awarded to competing films at the festival. He was also awarded the ‘Padma Bhushan’ and the ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award’ for his contributions to Indian Cinema. It is the magnitude of his accomplishments and a symbol of the place he has etched in the hearts of cinema lovers all over the world that this tribute aims to portray.
The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) which has become the most awaited annual film celebrations for the Indian Cinema industry over the last ten years since its inception in 2000, is dedicated to taking Indian Cinema to greater and more glorious heights by promoting it on a global scale. The awards go farther than just fulfilling this objective of honouring cinema by inculcating a symbiotic relationship between India and the host countries in terms of trade, tourism and other commercial relations.
