Chandigarh
23 June 2023
DIVYA AZAD
Chandigarh was abuzz with excitement and inspiration as celebrated filmmaker-turned-writer Rahul Rawail, took center stage for an extraordinary evening of conversations and his life journey revelations. With his unparalleled creativity and captivating storytelling, Rawail carved a niche for himself in the film industry and now the literary world. The recently concluded event of Kalam offered an exclusive opportunity for audiences to embark on a mesmerizing journey through the artist’s life and his formative years.
The event provided an immersive experience as the artist engaged in an enlightening conversation with the conversationalist, Ms. Deepika Bhalla. Attendees were treated to an exploration of the transformative power of storytelling, as Rawail shared his insights and inspirations, providing a glimpse into the depths of his artistic mind.
Yet another enlightening event of ‘Kalam’ by Prabha Khaitan Foundation(PKF), as promised to be inspiring, offered insights into the filmmaker’s illustrious career and his foray into the written word with his latest literary creation Raj Kapoor: The Master At Work.
Kalam is the seed germinated by PKF, dedicated to the promotion and enrichment of Hindi literature and language. The event brings together esteemed authors, poets, and scholars in a vibrant and interactive platform, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for Hindi literature. It adopts an inclusive approach, as is evident from the list of guests invited to its events, which includes reputed names as well as young talents who are helping strengthen the Hindi language.
The evening commenced with a formal Welcome Note by Shalu Goel, Ehsaas woman of Chandigarh followed by a captivating rendezvous with conversationalist Deepika Bhalla, Ehsaas woman of Ludhiana. Rawail shared about his journey from an assistant to a celebrated director and editor of Bollywood movies and his most cherished association with iconic actor-director-producer Raj Kapoor. He even offered us glimpses and glances of what went behind creating the book, solely dedicated to his Guru and mentor, Shri Raj Kapoor.
Held on 23.06.2023, the Foundation organized the event in association with the venue and hospitality partner Taj Chandigarh with the support of Ehsaas Women of Chandigarh– Shalu Goel, Sharmita Bhinder, and Manisha Jain. The event is in association withthe esteemed patron Shree Cement Limited.
Rahul Rawail’s illustrious career in filmmaking has seen him bring numerous memorable characters and compelling narratives to the silver screen like Love Story, Betaab, Arjun, Dacait, Anjaam, and Arjun Pandit. With an exceptional ability to capture the human experience, his films have resonated with audiences worldwide, earning critical acclaim and accolades. He is the son of renowned film director H.S. Rawail. His movies have been the launch vehicles for many Bollywood actors such as Kumar Gaurav and Vijayeta Pandit, Sunny Deol, Amrita Singh, Kajol, and Aishwarya Rai.
Rawail has worked with the immortal master of Indian cinema Raj Kapoor as an assistant director under the banner of R.K. Films. Under his tutelage, he learned the kernels of filmmaking and went on to make a mark of his own. His association with Raj Saab and the fond anecdotes and memories are captured in his book Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work.
Rawail is the only living person who has worked with, observed the work of Raj Kapoor and has worked in such close quarters. He is also the only one now aware of the aspects that contributed to him being an extraordinary filmmaker. So a biography meant he dealt with not only Raj Kapoor as a Showman but also a tribute to the cinematic prowess, his mentor, and a holistic human being.
The success of this unforgettable evening showcased Chandigarh’s appreciation for art and creativity. This was an occasion that brought together literature enthusiasts, film aficionados, and fans of Raj Kapoor’s remarkable body of work. The cherry on the cake was how vibrantly Rawail shared some anecdotes of his yesteryears with Raj Kapoor that kept the audience glued to their seats. They also had an exclusive opportunity to engage with the talented Rawail through an interactive Q&A session gaining insights into delving deeper into the book’s themes and the author’s journey into his newest literary venture.
Sharmita Bhinder, Ehsaas woman of Chandigarh delivered the formal Vote of Thanks on behalf of the Foundation and Rawail was felicitated by Dr (Mrs.) Ranjana Malik with a beautiful Uttoriyo, a traditional scarf of Bengal.
Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) is a non-profit organization based in Kolkata, committed to promoting, performing arts, culture, education, literature, gender equality, and women’s empowerment through author’s meets, book launches, literature fests, panel discussions, boutique festivals, and performing artists. It has conducted over 550 Kalam sessions in India and overseas. Over a span of 40 years, it has hosted luminaries like Vinod Bharadwaj, Aalok Shrivastav, Amish Tripathi, Shashi Tharoor, Ruskin Bond, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Usha Uthup, Ricky Kej, Shubha Mudgal and many more.
For more information, visit https://pkfoundation.org/.
