PM remembers Raj Kapoor, Mohd Rafi, ANR, Tapan Sinha in 2024’s last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address

PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, Raj Kapoor and Akkineni Nageswara Rao
| Photo Credit: Mann Ki Baat, ANI, THG

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday remembered four icons of Indian cinema — Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Tapan Sinha — during their birth centenary year in his final Mann Ki Baat address of 2024.

Speaking in his monthly radio broadcast, the Prime Minister said: “In 2024, we are celebrating the birth centenary of several film personalities who were instrumental in bringing global recognition to the country. The lives of these personalities are a source of inspiration for our film industry.”

“Through his films, Raj Kapoor ji made the world aware of India’s soft power,” Modi noted.

He praised Mohammed Rafi’s magical voice, stating, “His incredible voice would touch the heart of every listener. Be it devotional songs, romantic songs, or sad songs, he made every emotion come alive with his voice. The fact that the youth of today also listen to his songs with the same passion is a testament to his greatness as an artist. This is the true meaning of timeless art.”

Modi also lauded Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) for elevating Telugu cinema to “newer heights,” saying, “His films beautifully depicted Indian traditions and values.”

About Tapan Sinha, the Prime Minister remarked: “Tapan Sinha ji’s films gave a new vision to society. His films conveyed the message of social consciousness and national unity.”

The birth centenaries of Raj Kapoor, often referred to as the showman of Hindi cinema, and Mohammed Rafi, one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema known for his ability to convey a rainbow of emotions through his voice, were commemorated recently on December 14 and December 24, respectively.

Akkineni Nageswara Rao, better known as ANR, was a towering figure in the Telugu film industry. Over his seven-decade career, he starred in numerous landmark films. His 100th birth anniversary was celebrated on September 20.

Tapan Sinha, one of the most prominent Bengali cinema directors of the 1970s and 1980s, stood alongside luminaries such as Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, and Mrinal Sen. He would have turned 100 on October 2.