Indian Film Icons Raj Kapoor, ANR, Mohammed Rafi, Tapan Sinha to Get Centenary Tribute at IFFI

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is rolling out an extensive tribute program to honor the 100th birth anniversaries of four Indian cinema legends: actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, director Tapan Sinha, Telugu cinema star Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), and singer Mohammed Rafi.

The festival’s 55th edition will present restored versions of signature films from these artists, including Kapoor’s “Awaara,” Sinha’s “Harmonium,” ANR’s “Devadasu,” and “Hum Dono” featuring Rafi’s vocals. The National Film Development Corporation and National Film Archive of India have undertaken the restoration work to bring these classics back to their original visual quality.

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IFFI has scheduled dedicated celebration days for each luminary, with ANR’s tribute set for Nov. 22, Kapoor’s for Nov. 24, Rafi’s for Nov. 26, and Sinha’s for Nov. 27.

The festival program includes panel discussions featuring industry figures and family members, offering insights into the artists’ impact on Indian cinema. A curated exhibition will display rare photographs and memorabilia, while Sudarshan Pattnaik will create a sand art installation at Kala Academy.

The celebration extends to music, with a “Caravan of Songs” featuring 150 songs by Kapoor and Rafi, plus 75 tracks associated with Sinha and ANR. IFFI will also release commemorative stamps and bilingual brochures highlighting each icon’s career.

The festival’s Entertainment Arena will host themed activities and digital displays focusing on each artist’s contributions to Indian cinema. These celebrations aim to showcase the cultural significance of these figures to contemporary audiences while preserving their work for future generations.

IFFI runs Nov. 20-28. It runs concurrently with Film Bazaar (Nov. 20-24), South Asia’s leading film market.