The Show Man of the Indian film industry, Raj Kapoor, is back in focus thanks to a memorial dedicated to the superstar that has been set up just outside the city. <img title="Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor at the inauguration" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/raj1.jpg" alt="Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor at the inauguration" /> Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor at the inauguration&nbsp;
Titled the Raj Kapoor Memorial &mdash; The Golden Era of Indian Cinema, it has been set up in the Rajbaugh campus of MAEER's MIT College in Loni Kalbhor. It was inaugurated on Friday by his sons, and actors Randhir and Rajiv Kapoor. The event was organised by the college's World Peace Center.
Seven artists across the country have worked hard on the sculptures for over a year. The artists are Raghunath Kamble, Dayaram Tamboli, Rajendra Kumar, Vijay Khagaokar, Dilip Rohe, Navnath Waghchaure, Shivaji Gore and Sanjay Singh. <img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/raj2.jpg" alt="" />&nbsp;
Set amidst a picturesque location, the memorial is an added attraction to the campus after the Vishwa Shanti Kala Academy.
The memorial features statues of the actor from his acts from Aag to Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Moreover, there are also 5-6 feet tall statues depicting scenes and actors who featured in the movies acted and directed by the filmmaker. <img title="Exhibits at the memorial" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/raj5.jpg" alt="Exhibits at the memorial" /> Exhibits at the memorial&nbsp;
Talking about the memorial, founder professor Dr Vishwanath D Karad said, "It was the dream of Raj Kapoor and his family that this land should be used for educational purpose. This great artist has given a unique message to society. Therefore we built this memorial to reflect Indian culture, through cinema."
While there are around 50 statues on display, it's the Raj Kapoor and Nargis statue from Shree 420 and the joker statue from Mera Naam Joker, which are grabbing eyeballs. <img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/raj6.jpg" alt="" />&nbsp;
The interiors of the memorial are colourful, and also have themed lighting, Bollywood-ish frames and floral arrangements.
It takes at least an hour to explore all the statues and the park built around it. <img title="There are over 50 statues on display" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/raj7.jpg" alt="There are over 50 statues on display" /> There are over 50 statues on display&nbsp;
After a trip of the memorial, Randhir Kapoor said, "I am very happy with the respect shown towards my father, Raj Kapoorji, the greatest showman of Hindi cinema. My father is not alive today but I feel that he is alive through this memorial."
The memorial is open for visitors. School groups need to take prior permission for a trip.
At Rajbaug, Loni-Kalbhor. Call 30273400

Movie lovers can make a beeline to the Raj Kapoor memorial, which has been inaugurated at MIT College. It features over 50 statues of Kapoor and scenes from his movies

An ode to The Show Man

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An ode to The Show Man

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