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films

Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971)

LanguageHindi

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For the first time in the history of motion pictures in India or anywhere in the world, a grandfather, father, son and his fiancee have been called upon to play their 'real life' roles on the screen in R. K. Films' new offering "Kal Aaj Aur Kal". As far as any film historian knows, there is no other precedent of this kind
True, there are many examples of brothers working together. In India, we have Dilip and Nasir; Sanjay and Feroz; Ashok, Anoop and Kishore working in films as brothers.

There also have been examples of father and son. Prithviraj and Raj; AshokKumar and his son; Prithviraj and Shammi Kapoor, working; as father and son in a picture. Why, in "Awara", the four generations of Kapoor family appeared in the film, viz Randhir Kapoor in the title shot, Shashi as the kid and Raj Kapoor as the grown-up Raju, Prithviraj as his father and Dewan Bisheshar Nath, Prithviraj's father, as a judge. In Hollywood, Lionel and John Barrymore and their sister Ethel Barrymore have appeared together in one picture.

But, as affirmed above, "Kal Aaj Aur Kal'', the first motion picture in which Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor, grandfather, father and grandson in real life have been assigned identical roles in the picture. What is more, Babita who is now marrying Randhir is playing the role of his fiancee in the film.

Thus we have members of one family enacting their real life-like roles on the screen. This unique casting has a great advantage; for it creates an air of authenticity and leads a note of realism to the entire proceedings, while working i n the film, the artistes did not have to pretend or put in false airs. Raj Kapoor, who is playing the role of a father on the screen does not have to pretend. His talk with son Randhir appears as natural as Prithviraj's dialogues with his own grandson. Even the romantic scenes between Babita and Randhir appear much more natural than they would have been otherwise.

Though originally perhaps Virendra Sinha did not have these artistes in mind when he wrote the story of "Kal Aaj Aur Kal", he has reason to be very happy with the perfect casting of real grandfather, father and son, around whom the story revolves, in the identical roles lending an air of genuineness to the conflict between generations which provides the dramatic motif of the story.

Prithviraj is cast as the aristocratic grandfather who believes in the old ways of life and has orthodox outlook. Randhir Kapoor is cast as the grandson educated in England who holds dramatically opposite Westernised views of life and is ready to revolt. Raj Kapoor is cast as the father of today sandwiched between the two generations. As a son, he does not have the courage to oppose his father; as a father he is afraid to hurt his son's feelings lest he may revolt and walk out of home. It is his job to strike a balance between the adamant 'Yesterday' as represented by his father and rebellious 'Tomorrow' as represented by his son. And it is these significant roles representing three different generations which represent 'Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow' that the three generations of Kapoor - viz. Prithviraj, Raj and Randhir portray on the screen.

Babita portrays the modern girl who chooses her own life partner and in doing so she has to confront the pride and prejudices of the old generation. She portrays it without rancour and with full faith in the youth who is ready to stand by her and stake everything for her.

"Kal Aaj Aur Kal" is thus a unique casting feat and it will be a treat to watch the four artistes playing their real-life roles on the screen.

(From the official press booklet)