'''Prithviraj Kapoor (1906-72)'''


Revered actor born in Peshawar (now Pakistan)
as Prithvinath Kapoor. Son of a police officer.
Earned a major reputation on the amateur stage
in Lyallpur and Peshawar. Interrupted law
studies to join Imperial (1929). Acted in
several [[B.P. Mishra]] adventure and love stories
(e.g. [[Cinema Girl[[, opposite Ermeline, India’s
version of Clara Bow). Starred in India’s first
sound film, [[Alam Ara]]. He impressed with a
perfect speaking voice (he never sang). Then
joined the Grant Anderson theatre company
and performed Shakespeare in English, with
special acclaim for his Laertes in Hamlet.
Worked in [[New Theatres]] (1933-9), playing the
hero in Hindi versions ([[Durgadas Bannerjee]]
often playing the same role in Bengali) of its hit
bilinguals. Broke through with [[Debaki Bose]]’s
[[Rajrani Meera]] and as Rama in Seeta opposite
[[Durga Khote.]] [[Vidyapati]] was his crowning
achievement in Calcutta. [[Chandulal Shah]]
hired him for the Ranjit Studio (1938-40) in
Bombay, where he acted in some remarkable
melodramas with Kardar (e.g. Pagal) and
[[Chaturbhuj Doshi]] ([[Adhuri Kahani]]). Bestknown
performance as freelance actor was in
the title role of Alexander the Great in 
[[Sohrab Modi]]’s military epic [[Sikandar]]. The film
heightened his enduring reputation, enhanced
by the role of Emperor Akbar in 
[[Mughal-e-Azam]], as the embodiment of Mughal royalty in
Hindi-Urdu cinema (spoofed by K. Shankar’s
[[Rajkumar]]). Invested his earnings in the Hindi
theatre, setting up Prithvi Theatres (1944)
where he produced plays while shooting films
at night. Mounted a major play against
Partition, [[Inder Raj Anand]]’s Deewar (1945)
which earned him death threats from Islamic
fundamentalists. He persisted with antisectarian
politics, producing the technically
and artistically masterful plays Pathan (1947)
and Gaddar (1948). Launched many new
talents through Prithvi Theatres, including
Ramanand Sagar (Kalakaar, 1952), music
directors Shankar-Jaikishen and Ram
Ganguly (who scored Aag, 1948), all of whom
were later key members of [[Raj Kapoor]] film
units. Also launched his sons Raj, Shammi and
Shashi. His main performances of the 50s: in
Shantaram’s Dahej and in his son’s [[Awara]],
which ended on a dramatic confrontation
between the fictional father and son played by
a real father and son. Kal Aaj Aur Kal featured
three generations of Kapoors in a celebration
of feudal patriarchy. While directing Paisa,
adapted from a Prithvi Theatres play of 1954,
he lost his voice, which never regained its full
sonorousness. Had to close his theatre and
reduce his film work. In the late 60s and 70s
acted in several Hindi and some Punjabi
mythologicals. Played the patriarchal lead in
the Saint film Nanak Naam Jahaaz Hai,
credited with the revival of the Punjabi film
industry. Died of cancer in 1972.


'''FILMOGRAPHY''' (* also d): 1930: Cinema
Girl; Prince Vijaykumar; Sher-e-Arab; 1931:
Namak Haram Kon; Bar Ke Pobar; Golibar;
Toofan (all St); Alam Ara; Draupadi; 1932:
Dagabaaz Ashiq; 1933: Rajrani Meera;
1934: Daku Mansoor; Ramayan; Seeta; 1935:
Inquilab; Josh-e-Inteqam; Swarg Ki Seedhi;
1936: Grihadah/Manzil; 1937: Milap;
President; Vidyapati; Jeevan Prabhat;
Anath Ashram; 1938: Abhagin; Dushman;
1939: Adhuri Kahani; Sapera; 1940: Aaj Ka
Hindustan; Deepak; Chingari; Pagal; Sajani;
1941: Raj Nartaki/Court Dancer;
Sikandar; 1942: Ujala; Ek Raat; 1943: Aankh
Ki Sharam; Bhalai; Gauri; Ishara; Vish Kanya;
1944: Maharathi Karna; Phool; 1945:
Devadasi; Nala Damayanti; Shri Krishnarjun
Yuddha; Vikramaditya; 1946: Prithviraj
Samyukta; Valmiki; 1947: Parashuram; 1948:
Azadi Ki Raah Par; 1950: Dahej; Hindustan
Hamara; 1951: Awara; Deepak; 1952:
Anandmath; Chhatrapati Shivaji; Insaan;
1953: Aag Ka Dariya; 1954: Ehsan; 1957:
Paisa*; Pardesi; 1958: Lajwanti; 1960:
Mughal-e-Azam; 1961: Senapati; 1963:
Harishchandra Taramati; Pyar Kiya To Darna
Kya; Rustom Sohrab; Gujree; 1964: Ghazal;
Jahan Ara; Rajkumar; Zindagi; 1965:
Aasmaan Mahal; Jaanwar; Jahan Sati
Wahan Bhagwan; Khakaan; Lutera; Shri Ram
Bharat Milap; Sikandar-e-Azam; 1966: Daku
Mangal Singh; Insaaf; Lal Bangla; Love And
Murder; Shankar Khan; Sher Afghan; Yeh Raat
Phir Na Aayegi; 1967: Shamsheer; 1968:
Balaram Shri Krishna; Teen Bahuraniyan;
1969: Insaaf Ka Mandir; Nai Zindagi; Sati
Sulochana; Nanak Naam Jahaaz Hai; 1970:
Ek Nannhi Munni Ladki Thi; Gunah Aur
Kanoon; Heer Ranjha; 1971: Kal Aaj Aur Kal;
Padosi; Sakshatkara; Nanak Dukhiya Sab
Sansar; 1972: Mele Mitran De; Bankelal; Naag
Panchami; 1973: Naya Nasha; 1976: Bombay
By Nite.

[[Actor]]