Fri Feb 28 20:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Kolkata to Celebrate Raj Kapoor’s Legacy with Dastangoi Performance

**Kolkata, March 1, 2025** – Kolkata will pay tribute to Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor on March 1st with a special Dastangoi performance, “Dastan-e-Raj Kapoor,” at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity. The show will trace the Kapoor family’s journey, from Prithviraj Kapoor’s early days in Peshawar to Raj Kapoor’s rise to stardom in Bombay, highlighting the significant role Kolkata played in shaping his career.

The performance, directed by renowned Dastangoi performer Mahmood Farooqui and written by Sibtain Shahidi, will feature anecdotes, music, and a narrative that emphasizes the deep connection between Raj Kapoor and the city. Richa Agarwal, chairperson of the Kolkata Centre for Creativity, highlighted Kapoor’s early exposure to Kolkata’s rich cultural and cinematic landscape through his father’s association with New Theatres, and his later collaborations with Bengali legends like Salil Chowdhury, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and Sombhu Mitra. These influences, Agarwal noted, significantly shaped his storytelling and social consciousness, evident in films like “Jagte Raho,” co-directed by Mitra.

The show will also recall Kapoor’s personal connection to Kolkata, including his donation to Mitra Institution, his alma mater, and his childhood memories of traversing the city. According to the Bengal Film Archive, the Kapoor family resided in Hazra Crossing, and Raj Kapoor, known locally as “Prithvir chhele” (Prithvi’s son), would often take the tram to New Theatres to deliver lunch to his father. His early acting career included a role in Debaki Kumar Bose’s “Inquilab,” and “Jagte Raho” itself had its roots in a Bengali film, “Ek Din Ratre.”

The organizers believe that Dastangoi, a storytelling tradition revived by Farooqui and his uncle, provides a compelling medium to share this larger-than-life story with a broad audience. The performance promises a nostalgic and insightful journey into the life and times of one of Bollywood’s most iconic figures and the city that played a crucial role in his success.

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