MOSCOW WILL BECOME THE CENTER OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGENDARY RAJ KAPOOR

On 28 November 2025, Moscow will host a gala evening dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the outstanding Indian filmmaker Shri Raj Kapoor. The Russian-Indian event will take place at the “Workshop ‘12’ of Nikita Mikhalkov” Theatre at 33/1 Povarskaya Street, starting at 18:00. The jubilee evening is organized by the International Union of Non-Governmental Organizations “Assembly of the Peoples of the World” together with the non-profit organization Respect India, with the support of the “Russian-Indian Friendship Society ‘Disha’”.

MOSCOW AND RAJ KAPOOR: A SPECIAL HISTORICAL CONNECTION

Choosing Moscow as the key venue for this international celebration is deeply symbolic. The Russian capital preserves unique cultural ties with Indian cinema and with Raj Kapoor personally.The legendary actor and director first visited Moscow in 1956 during the Days of Indian Culture. In the summer of 1965, Raj Kapoor returned to the Soviet capital as a jury member of the 4th Moscow International Film Festival, performed at the Green Theater, and visited VDNKh, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of Muscovites.

In the 1950s, the nationwide love for Kapoor in the USSR grew into genuine “Kapoor-mania”: homemade photographs of the actor and samizdat records on X-ray film featuring songs from his movies circulated widely. His iconic film Awaara (1951) was watched by 64 million Soviet viewers, and the song “Awara Hoon” became the anthem of an entire generation and remains widely recognized in Russia. When Yuri Gagarin met him in India in November 1961, he warmly addressed him as “Comrade Vagabond”.

HIGH-LEVEL SUPPORT

On the Indian side, the celebration is chaired by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Government of India, with the support of Shri Manoj Tiwari, Member of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha). This high-level representation highlights the national significance of the event and the importance of Russia-India cultural ties.

EVENT PROGRAM

Guests of the festive evening will enjoy a rich cultural program, including:

• An exhibition of rare photographs and film posters of Raj Kapoor
• Creative performances inspired by the timeless music and artistic themes of his films
• Special presentations dedicated to the master’s contribution to world culture and to strengthening Russian-Indian friendship

REVIVING THE TRADITIONS OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE

“The Assembly of the Peoples of the World places great value on the outstanding contribution of Shri Raj Kapoor to world culture. His work became a symbol of a cultural bridge between the two great nations. The upcoming celebration aims to revive warm memories and highlight the ongoing cultural exchange between India and Russia,” the organizers note.

The event is expected to become an important moment in Moscow’s cultural life, bringing together representatives of the diplomatic corps, cultural and art figures, as well as all admirers of Indian cinema.

ABOUT THE CULTURAL PROGRAM

The musical evening dedicated to Raj Kapoor’s work will delight the audience with its remarkable selection and rich program. Raj Kapoor classics — from “Awaara Hoon” and “Mera Joota Hai Japani” to lyrical favorites such as “Lag Ja Gale” and “Pyaar Hua Iqrar Hua”. The audience will experience a deeply emotional and diverse concert performed by Shri Manoj Tiwari and Manndakini Bora.

Manoj Tiwari is an Indian actor, singer, politician, and television host. He was born on 1 February 1971 in the village of Kahalabad in the state of Bihar. He is best known as a singer in the Bhojpuri genre — a regional musical and film tradition from eastern India. Tiwari became one of the most popular performers of Bhojpuri songs and helped bring the genre to nationwide prominence. He has acted in numerous Bhojpuri films, becoming a true star of regional cinema, and has also appeared in Bollywood films and television series. Since 2014, Manoj Tiwari has been active in politics as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was elected to the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) and has become an influential figure, especially among communities from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Manndakini Bora is a talented Indian singer and stage actress from the state of Assam. She was born on 12 June in Jorhat district. Her musical path was inspired by her grandfather Girindra Nath Bora — a legendary classical vocalist and renowned sitar player. She earned a master’s degree from the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow. Over more than 20 years of her professional career, she has had the honor of sharing the stage with the legendary Bhupen Hazarika at the beginning of her career and studying under Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan. Over the past decade, she has given more than 200 live performances and has received several award nominations, including “Best Debut Singer” at the PTC Music Awards (2017) and the Women Achievers Award (2014).