Mera Naam Joker

Mera Naam Joker translation My Name is Joker is a 1970 Hindi drama film directed by Raj Kapoor. The screenplay was written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. This film was the debut of Rishi Kapoor. Mera Naam Joker is a film about a clown who must make his audience laugh at the cost of his own sorrows. The film is considered to be one of the lengthiest films of Indian cinema. After Sangam became a blockbuster, Mera Naam Joker was highly anticipated as it was six years in the making and was heavily publicized to be loosely based on Raj Kapoors own life. Upon release the film turned out to be a critical and commercial disaster putting Kapoor into a financial crisis. The film was heavily panned for its length and plot. However, over the years, the film has gained a cult status and is regarded as a classic today. Both audiences and critics response has turned highly favorable with the passage of time. An abridged version was released in the 1980s and had a highly successful run at the box office. Raj Kapoor termed this his favorite film and described it as having deep philosophical depth and meaning. The film is regarded as one of Kapoors finest works today with film experts labeling it a misunderstood masterpiece. The movie Bobby, which was released in the year 1973, was Rishi Kapoors debut movie. Although it is widely believed that it the movies purpose was to launch his son Rishi Kapoors career, its main purpose, as stated by Rishi Kapoor himself, was to clear the debts that Raj Kapoor had incurred due to Mera Naam Jokers unsuccessful run at the boxoffice.

The first chapter is about the adolescent Raju and deals with his infatuation with his teacher Mary Simi Garewal. She gives him confidence in himself, and he discovers the world of femininity and desire. She is older than him. He attends her wedding in a state of false merriment. Marys lessons nevertheless arent lost Raju comes to realise that he was born to make the world laugh, despite his own troubles.After his first heartbreak, the story follows adult Raju who has found work with Gemini Circus as a clown. His dream materialises The circus is owned by Mahendra Singh Dharmendra who has understood Rajus potential and hires him. The circus hosts a visiting group of artists from Russia, and he falls in love with Marina Kseniya Ryabinkina, the lead trapezist. Despite the language barrier they become close, and Raju half hopes that they might live together. But he faces heartbreak once again when the circus ends and Marina returns to Russia. It is in this chapter that Rajus mother dies during his performance, watching him perform the very stunts which caused her husbands death. ........

Source: Wikipedia