By Gurmukh Singh
Toronto, June 18 (IANS) The legendary Raj Kapoor is looming large over Toronto in the Year of India in Canada.
As the Indian International Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards come here next week, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has joined hands with IIFA to commemorate the first superstar of Indian cinema.
The main members of the Kapoor clan - Karisma Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor - will be present as special guests at the June 26 event to pay tributes to Raj Kapoor, TIFF said Friday.
Other Bollywood stars attending the IIFA Awards will also attend the tribute to the 'Charlie Chaplin of Indian cinema', TIFF said.
Beginning next month, TIFF will also present 'Raj Kapoor and The Golden Age of Indian Cinema Retrospective' running here from July 1 to August 7.
In a statement Friday, TIFF said, "One of the giants of Indian cinema, actor, director, mogul and legend Raj Kapoor is synonymous with the rise of Bollywood.
"The highly influential Kapoor is revered throughout India, the former Soviet world, the Middle East and beyond for the films he made during the Golden Age of Indian cinema. Running from July 1 to August 7, TIFF presents the first major Kapoor retrospective in North America in nearly three decades - featuring a number of newly struck 35mm prints - and an exciting new installation from acclaimed filmmaker Srinivas Krishna.''
It said Raj Kapoor's directorial debut, "Aag" (1949), his first mega-hit "Barsaat" (1949), "Awaara" (1961); record breaking "Sangam" (1964) and major-hit "Bobby" (1973) will be among the films to be shown during the Toronto retrospective.
"To help contextualize Kapoor's work, the retrospective also includes key films from the Golden Age era and beyond, including Bimal Roy's ghost story - "Madhumati" (1958) - Guru Dutt's celebrated tragedy - "Pyaasa" (1957) and Mehboob Khan's "Andaz" (1949) and the legendary "Mother India" (1957), considered by many to be the most important Indian film ever made," TIFF said.
The Kapoor clan will also be present when the Indian-dominated city of Brampton on the outskirts of Toronto names a street Raj Kapoor Crescent after the legend.