Centenary Screenings: Raj Kapoor and Marlon Brando

Venue: Room 234

Date(s): 20^th and 21^st of December 2024

The Department of Film Studies organized back-to-back film screenings to observe the birth centenary of two legendary figures in Cinema’s history – Indian filmmaker and star Raj Kapoor and American method actor Marlon Brando. It was an occasion to revisit their work, recall their significant contribution to the medium of cinema, and importantly introduce their films to a new generation of students interested in cinema.

The films which were selected for screening were Shree 420 (Raj Kapoor, 1955), and A Streetcar Named Desire (Elia Kazan, 1954). The screenings held in Room 234 on 20^th and 21^st of December respectively, were open for all and were attended by students from different departments, teachers, and members of non-teaching staff. A total number of 40 students and staff attended the screenings and discussions over the two days.

On both the days after the screening was over, there was a brief discussion which was presided over by Mr. Arup Ratan Samajdar of the Department of Film Studies. Many of the students stayed back for the discussion and enthusiastically participated in it. Several interesting points such as questions of class and gender representation in Hindi Cinema, significance of psychologized and non-psychologized acting within a narrative context, and the lasting impavt of these figures in the cultural and political terrain. A number of students provided positive feedback and stated that they’d look forward to more such events in the future.