Mera Naam Joker (1970)

Mera Naam Joker (translation: My Name is Joker) is a 1970 Hindi 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 most lengthy films of Indian cinema. After Sangam became a blockbuster, Mera Naam Joker was highly anticipated as it took six years in the making and was heavily publicized to be loosely based on Raj Kapoor's own life. Upon its 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 audience's and critics' response has turned highly favorable with the passage of time. An abridged version was released in the 1980's and had a highly successful run at the box office. Raj Kapoor considered this to be his favorite film and described it to have deep philosophical depth and meaning. Mera Naam Joker is regarded as a cult classic and one of Kapoor's finest works today with film experts labeling it as a 'misunderstood masterpiece'.

Synopsis

Mera Naam Joker is the story of Raju, considered the best circus clown ever. Ever since Raju's father died in an accident during his performance, Raju's mother had been repulsed by the circus. As luck would have it, Raju had a natural affinity towards the circus world. The film traces Raju's journey from his childhood to the day of his last performance.

Actors