{{short description|Former film production company founded by Raj Kapoor}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox company | name = R. K. Films | logo = RK Films Logo.jpg | caption = | type = Private | owners = {{ubl|Randhir Kapoor|Rishi Kapoor|Rajiv Kapoor}} | parent = R. K. Studios LTD | foundation = 1948 | location = Chembur, Mumbai, Maharashtra | key_people = Randhir Kapoor<br/>Karisma Kapoor<br />Kareena Kapoor<br />Ranbir Kapoor | founder = Raj Kapoor | industry = Bollywood | products = {{ubl|Films|Tech shows}} | homepage = }}
'''R. K. Films''' was an Indian film production company based in '''R. K. Studio''', a film studio, both established by and named after the Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor.<ref>{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Kushwant|title=Screen-Struck India|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1396924/screenstruck_india_kushwant_singh/|newspaper=The Emporia Gazette|date=6 November 1976|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = 8 December 2014 }} {{Open access}}</ref> It was headquartered at Chembur, Mumbai. Founded in 1948, one year after India gained independence. It had a rough start, as its first movie, ''Aag'' (1948) did not perform well at the box office. Most of the R. K. Films productions share a common theme of criticising society and depicting love across social divides.
==History== thumb|R.K. Film and R. K. Studio entrance, Chembur, Mumbai R. K. Films was formed in 1948 by Raj Kapoor in Chembur.<ref name="Bollywood 2006">''Bollywood: A History'' by Mihir Bose, Tempus, 2006, 0752428357</ref>
After the commercial failure of the studio's first venture, ''Aag'' (1948), it found success with ''Barsaat'' (1949). After this success, the company's logo was designed to imitate the poster of ''Barsaat''. RK Films produced many successful films such as ''Awaara'' (1951), ''Boot Polish'', ''Jagte Raho'' and ''Shree 420''. ''Awaara'' was particularly successful, not just in India, but all over the world. Many R. K. Films movies featured Kapoor opposite actress Nargis. Kapoor appeared in 15 R. K. films with Nargis and travelled around the world with her to promote the studio's films. The music team of Shankar Jaikishan also worked frequently on R. K. Films productions during this period.<ref>''Cinema India'' by Divia Patel, Rutgers University Press, 2002, 0813531756.</ref> Starting with ''Awaara'' (1951), Radhu Karmakar shot all of Kapoor's subsequent films for four decades, till his last, ''Ram Teri Ganga Maili'' (1985).<ref name=hindu>{{cite web | title = Memories through a lens | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/06/06/stories/2008060650140400.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080611054828/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/06/06/stories/2008060650140400.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 11 June 2008|date=6 June 2008| work = The Hindu | access-date = 27 April 2014}}</ref>
R. K. Films produced many films in the next few decades, including ''Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai'' (1960), ''Mera Naam Joker'' (1970), ''Bobby'' (1973), ''Satyam Shivam Sundaram'' (1978), ''Prem Rog'' (1982) and ''Ram Teri Ganga Maili'' (1985), Kapoor's last film. In the 1970s, Kapoor's eldest son Randhir Kapoor joined his father at the studio, and made his acting and directorial debut with ''Kal Aaj Aur Kal'' in 1971, which also starred his future wife Babita, father Raj and grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor. He went on to direct two more films with the company ''Dharam Karam'' (1975) and an incomplete film left by Raj, which he completed after his father's death in 1988 and ''Henna'' (1991). Raj's brother Shashi Kapoor also appeared in several R. K. films. When Raj died in 1988, Randhir took over the studio. His younger brother Rajiv Kapoor directed ''Prem Granth'' in 1996 and Rishi Kapoor directed ''Aa Ab Laut Chalen'' (1999). Hereafter, the Kapoors have produced no more films under the R. K. Films banner.<ref>{{cite news | title = Randhir Kapoor keen to revive RK Films banner | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Randhir-Kapoor-keen-to-revive-RK-Films-banner/articleshow/21145828.cms |date=19 July 2013| access-date = 27 April 2014 | newspaper = The Times of India |publisher= The Times Group}}</ref> Unlike other Bollywood studios of the time period, R.K. Films was able to preserve all the costumes used in its films.<ref name="Bollywood 2006"/>
On 16 September 2017, R. K. Studio caught fire and collapsed. A massive fire broke out in the studio during the shoot of a television reality show and the studio was engulfed in fire.
== Logo == thumb|A poster for film Barsaat, 1949, which also shows the logo of the R.K. Films The logo of R. K. Films is based on a scene from the film ''Barsaat'', as can be seen in the poster for the movie.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/rk-studio-logo-barsaat-trivia|title=Was It a Painting That Inspired the Iconic RK Studio Logo?|first=Quint|last=NEON|date=27 August 2018|website=TheQuint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/interesting-facts-about-rk-studios/No-media-access/photostory/65563388.cms|title=No media access - Interesting facts about RK Studios|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The logo was later simplified. Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar has claimed that the logo was designed by Balasaheb Thackeray.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/RK-Films-logo-was-Sahebs-design-Manoj-Kumar/articleshow/17266401.cms|title=RK Films logo was Saheb's design: Manoj Kumar - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=19 November 2012 }}</ref> It may possibly have been inspired by ''The Kreutzer Sonata''.<ref name=Chaudhuri2022>{{cite book |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Diptakirti |title=The Bollywood Pocketbook of Iconic Dates |date=2022 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=978-93-91028-34-3 |page=1949 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QbNVEAAAQBAJ&dq=Kreutzer+Sonata&pg=PA1949 |language=en}}</ref>
== R. K. Studio==
The studio occupied nearly two acres of land in the Mumbai-suburb of Chembur. The studio's main building was constructed in the early 1950s. Raj Kapoor's cottage was behind this building where he often organized small intimate meetings and functions. The 25th anniversary of R. K. Films was celebrated here.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=277NmkjsOuI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/277NmkjsOuI |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Raj Kapoor celebrates Silver Jubilee of RK Films in Mumbai 25 years, WildFilmsIndia, Jul 20, 2017|website=YouTube |date=20 July 2017 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
There was a makeshift museum (once Nargis's dressing & make-up room) was a treasure trove which was lost in the fire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/mmUBZNhKfLBH4A4PR4UsCN/RK-Studios-The-final-curtain.html|title=RK Studios: The final curtain|first=Madhu|last=Jain|date=31 August 2018|website=Livemint}}</ref> It included posters from ''Barsaat'' (1949), ''Awaara'' (1951), ''Aag'' (1948), ''Mera Naam Joker'' (1970) and ''Bobby'' (1973). It also had a large black umbrella that protected the couple from the studio rain in the song "''Pyar Hua, Ikrar Hua''" in ''Shree 420'' (1955), Nargis's long black dress from ''Awaara'', Vyjanthimala's sari(s) from ''Sangam'', Dimple Kapadia's funky frocks from ''Bobby'', Padmini's sari(s) from ''Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai'', the dafali used in ''Mera Naam Raju'' (Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai) and even some of the hats Raj Kapoor wore in his films. These were lost in the fire. Rishi Kapoor regarded that as the greatest loss due to the fire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg2wc4qW7AI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Mg2wc4qW7AI |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Rk Studios में लगी आग को लेकर Rishi ने कहा- बहुत नुकसान हो गया हमारा, NMF News, Sep 18, 2017|website=YouTube |date=18 September 2017 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
The sets constructed at the studio included:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/photos/rk-studio-fire-from-awaara-sequence-to-karz-songs-from-iconic-films-shot-at-the-gutted-site-4066469.html|title=RK Studio Fire: From Awaara sequence to Karz, songs from iconic films shot at the gutted site |date=21 September 2017|website=Firstpost}}</ref> * Set for "''Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi''" dream sequence in Kapoor's ''Awaara'' with the Elephant-inspired image<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf334WjKQI0|title=Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi, Shemaroo Filmi Gaane, Feb 16, 2014|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> * Set for "''Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua''"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXLzfldeDcM|title=Shree 420 - Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua Hai Pyar Se, Shemaroo, Jul 19, 2010|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> * Haveli Set for song "''Yeh Galiyan Yeh Chaubara Yahan Aana Na Dobara''", ''Prem Rog'', 1982 * Banares set for ''Ram Teri Ganga Maili'', 1985 '''Ref''' -<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rohit.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/840699363|title=It's not over : structural drivers of the global economic crisis|date=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-808841-7|oclc=840699363}}</ref>
== Festivals at R. K. Studio == Festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganapati) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkPZpO1Wfws |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VkPZpO1Wfws |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=RANBIR KAPOOR ने अपनी दादा Raj Kapoor के RK Studio में करी Ganesh पूजा, Mirchi Bollywood, Sep 14, 2016|website=YouTube |date=14 September 2016 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> and Holi <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9MYBERgq-w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/K9MYBERgq-w |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=How Raj kapoor's Holi Party has reversed downfall of Amitabh Bachchan's career, Bollywood Aajkal, Aug 29, 2017|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}</ref> were regularly celebrated by the Kapoor family together with their distinguished guests.
== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%;" |- !scope="col"|Title !scope="col"|Year !scope="col"|Director !scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Aag'' | 1948 ||Raj Kapoor |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/538668 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430064355/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/538668 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 April 2012 |title=Aag (1948) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Barsaat'' | 1949 ||Raj Kapoor |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/538957 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128081805/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/538957 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 January 2013 |title=Barsaat (1949) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Awaara'' | 1951 ||Raj Kapoor |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/507925 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019204709/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/507925 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2012 |title=Awara (1951) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Aah'' | 1953 ||Raja Nawhate | |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Boot Polish'' | 1954 ||Prakash Arora||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/503880 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128073358/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/503880 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 January 2013 |title=Boot Polish (1954) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| ''Shree 420'' | 1955 ||Raj Kapoor |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/504312 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710122310/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/504312 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2012 |title=Shree 420 (1955) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Jagte Raho'' | 1956 ||Shambhu Mitra ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/507449 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118124939/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/507449 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2012 |title=Jagte Raho (1956) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Ab Dilli Dur Nahin'' | 1957||Amar Kumar ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/502860 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306023551/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/502860 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2012 |title=Ab Dilli Door Nahin (1957) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai'' | 1960 ||Radhu Karmakar||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/504696 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129130741/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/504696 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 January 2013 |title=Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1961) |website=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Sangam'' | 1964 ||Raj Kapoor | |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Mera Naam Joker'' | 1970 ||Raj Kapoor | |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Kal Aaj Aur Kal'' | 1971 ||Randhir Kapoor || |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Bobby'' | 1973 ||Raj Kapoor | |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Dharam Karam'' | 1975 ||Randhir Kapoor||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/533241 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129133628/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/533241 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 January 2013 |title=Dharam Karam (1975) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Satyam Shivam Sundaram'' | 1978 ||Raj Kapoor ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/508471 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630163823/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/508471 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2012 |title=Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) |website=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Biwi-O-Biwi'' | 1981 ||Rahul Rawail ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/534077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028121626/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/534077 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2012 |title=Biwi-O-Biwi (1981) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Prem Rog'' | 1982 ||Raj Kapoor||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/508427 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514102952/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/508427 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2012 |title=Prem Rog (1982) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Ram Teri Ganga Maili'' | 1985 ||Raj Kapoor |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/508529 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228160503/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/508529 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 February 2012 |title=Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Henna'' | 1991 ||Randhir Kapoor||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/533264 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409203304/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/533264 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 April 2012 |title=Henna (1991) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Prem Granth'' | 1996 ||Rajiv Kapoor ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/504351 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512205409/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/504351 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2012 |title=Prem Granth (1996) |website=Bollywood Hungama| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''Aa Ab Laut Chalen'' | 1999 ||Rishi Kapoor ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/200424 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012232802/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/200424 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2012 |title=Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) |website=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |}
==Awards== {{awards table}} |- | 1955 | ''Shree 420''<ref name="3rdawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/3rd_nff_1956.pdf|title=3rd National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=1 September 2011}}</ref> | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi | {{won}} |- | 1956 | ''Ek Din Ratre''<ref name="4thawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/4th_Nff.pdf|title=4th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=2 September 2011}}</ref> | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali | {{won}} |- | 1955 | ''Boot Polish'' | rowspan="4"|Filmfare Award for Best Film | {{won}} |- | 1962 | ''Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai'' | {{won}} |- | 1986 | ''Ram Teri Ganga Maili'' | {{won}} |- | 1983 | ''Prem Rog'' | {{nom}} |}
== Acquisition == Godrej Properties, part of Godrej group, acquired R.K.Studios Land in 2018. The confirmation was publicly made on 3 May 2019. The company did not disclose the deal value. RK Studios sold to Godrej Properties has been made into Godrej RKS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/iconic-rk-studio-gets-new-owners-randhir-kapoor-says-2032633|title=Iconic RK Studio Gets New Owner, Randhir Kapoor Says...|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/selling-rk-studios-was-the-need-of-the-hour-randhir-kapoor/articleshow/69164220.cms|title=Selling RK Studios was the need of the hour: Randhir Kapoor - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=4 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/entertainment/bollywood/030519/r-k-studios-sold-to-godrej-properties-confirms-randhir-kapoor.html|title=R K Studios sold to Godrej Properties, confirms Randhir Kapoor|date=2019-05-03|website=The Asian Age|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>
==See also== * Raj Kapoor's memorial at family farm in Pune * Kapoor family
==Bibliography== * {{cite book|author1=Ritu Nanda|author2=Raj Kapoor|title=Raj Kapoor, His Life and His Films|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lBdlAAAAMAAJ|year=1991|publisher=R.K. Films & Studios}} * {{cite book|author=Madhu Jain|title=Kapoors: The First Family of Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l3heZ8I-k9AC&pg=PT339|date=2009|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-81-8475-813-9|pages=339–}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120512125230/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/company/type/view/id/38705 R. K. Films] at Bollywood Hungama
{{Raj Kapoor}} {{Authority control}}
Category:R. K. Films Category:Film studios in Mumbai Category:Film production companies of India Category:Entertainment companies established in 1948 Category:Raj Kapoor Category:Indian companies established in 1948