Awara (1951 film)

Awaara
Directed by	Raj Kapoor
Produced by	Raj Kapoor
Written by	Khwaja Ahmad Abbas V.P. Sathe
Starring	Prithviraj Kapoor Nargis Raj Kapoor Leela Chitnis K.N.Singh Shashi Kapoor
Music by	Shankar-Jaikishan
Cinematography	Radhu Karmakar
Production company	All India Film Corporation, R. K. Films
Distributed by	R. K. Films, Chembur
Release date	14 December 1951
Running time	193 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Awaara (Hindi: आवारा Āvārā, meaning "Vagabond"; also written Awāra) is a 1951 Hindi film produced and directed by Raj Kapoor and starring Raj Kapoor, his real-life father Prithviraj Kapoor, Nargis, Leela Chitnis and K.N. Singh. Kapoor's youngest real-life brother Shashi Kapoor plays the younger version of his character and Prithiviraj's father Dewan Bashwanath Kapoor also played a cameo role in his only film appearance. The film's music is by Shankar Jaikishan.

The film centers on the intertwining lives of poor Raj (Kapoor) and privileged Rita (Nargis). In the film, Kapoor's poor, innocent "little tramp" character references Charlie Chaplin and was further developed in other Kapoor films such as Shree 420.

The film became an overnight sensation in South Asia, and found success abroad in the Soviet Union, East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In particular, the song "Awaara Hoon" (I am a Vagabond), sung by Mukesh with lyrics by Shailendra, became hugely popular across the Indian subcontinent, as well as in the Soviet Union,China,Turkey, Afghanistan, and Romania. The film was also nominated for the Grand Prize of the Cannes Film Festival in 1953. Owing to its popularity in so many countries, the film is a candidate for most successful film of all time. In 2012, Awaara was included in the 20 new entries to All-Time 100 greatest films by TIME.