| Industry | Motion picture |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Chembur,Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Products | Movies |
| Owner(s) | Raj Kapoor |
R.K Films was the studio that Raj Kapoor owned. It was created in 1948, one year after the independence of India. It had a rough start, as its first movie, Aag was a flop. Most of the R.K. Films productions share a common theme of criticising society and depicting love across social divides.
R.K. Films was formed in 1948 by actor, producer, director and editor Raj Kapoor in Chembur; Mumbai.[1]
After the commercial failure of the studio's first venture, Aag, it found success with Barsaat. After this success, the company's logo was drawn to imitate the poster of Barsaat. Successful films such as Awaara, Boot Polish, Jagte Raho and Shri 420 followed. Awaara was particularly successful, not just in India, but all over the world. Many R.K. Films movies featured Kapoor opposite actress Nargis. Kapoor appeared in 15 R.K. films with Nargis and travelled around the world with her to promote the studio's films. The music team of Shankar Jaikishan also worked frequently on R.K. Films productions during this period.[2]
R.K. Films produced many films in the next few decades, including Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Prem Rog (1982) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), Raj Kapoor's last film. In the 1970s, Randhir Kapoor joined his father at the studio and went on to direct several films. His brother Shashi Kapoor also appeared in several R.K. films. When Raj Kapoor died in 1988 in the middle of shooting Henna (1991), Randhir took over the studio. He directed PremGranth in 1996, but after the commercial failure of Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) the Kapoors have made no new R.K. productions.
Unlike other Bollywood studios of the time period, R.K. Films was able to preserve all the costumes used in its films.[3]
Awards
1985 Best Movie - Ram Teri Ganga Maili
1970 Best movie - Mera Naam Joker
1964 Best Movie - Sangam
1960 Best Movie - Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1954 Best Movie - Boot Polish