This film though stretched 3 hours and 44 minutes touches the human heart. Loving a girl next door, singing songs, marrying at the end were routine when this film was made.Raj Kapoor who was famous for his innovative ideas and selection of plots for story aptly chose the untouched Joker as main character of his movie Mera Naam Joker. In different phases of the life he falls in love with different heroines, but always loses his love. This is the novelty in the story.The dialogues like "kabhi mai bhi solah saal ka tha", Raj crying Maa...Maa.. touches the human heart.Let the Film bombed at the box-office, but it was released for more than 30 times in Hyderabad(India)especially at Royal Theatre (Hyd, on all the occasions it ran for 40+ days.I happened to watch this movie on all the releases, but every time the same age-old humane touch touched my heart. Even today, in the mechanical life, If I feel that I am becoming mechanical or going away from the humanitarian feelings, I simply close my bedroom doors, slid the CD in and watch this movie patiently. My heart weeps, my body becomes heavy and in the next morning I fully a human with concern towards my fellow beings.In my life of 40 years I saw many a movie, but none touched my heart at Mera Naam Joker did.I salute the thinker, director and brave producer...Late Raj Kapoor for producing the great movie Mera Naam Joker.

This supposedly autobiographical epic tale from Raj Kapoor broke all film-making conventions of '70s India. It was too long, there was no constant heroine and the hero never won.Yet, the story unfolds beautifully, taking the viewer through the life of a simple man and his women. The protagonist is unreal in his simplicity and is more of a metaphor for the ideal lover. And like an ideal lover, he fails again and again. No film has better romanticised the self-defeatist trend of being a "good human being".It is an understanding of romance in many stages seen through an unbiased almost transparent male perspective. It is more a study of "love" than a love story in itself.The protagonist, pitched as a clown, brings to light the forever defeated lover, who the world laughs at. Good guys really do finish last. This is no Devdas. This is a man who goes through extreme emotional anguish only to stand back up again and expose himself and his pain to the world so that others may have a good laugh.The downward spiral of the protagonist's resilient self-defeatist selfless romance bring no conclusive climax. And perhaps, that's how it really is. For people like these, there really is no conclusion. Life just goes on and on and chapters of their defeat just pile on one after the other.A sublime movie.

This is a great movie for people who appreciate films and great film makers-in the caliber of Raj Kapoor. RK banner, probably the single most banner, that stood for quality in Indian Films, so much so, the posters are selling at a high premium! Raj Kapoor, poured his heart and soul in making of this movie, almost bankrupting this flamboyant film Maker. The story is down to earth, one of the best non-fiction tale in the Indian films. This movie failed at the box-office mainly because of the inordinate length, even for the Indian audience of the 70s'. Acting wise Raj Kapoor, Simi Agarwal, Achala Sachdev stand out. Raj Kapoor had his actresses dress erotic and provocative but never vulgar or crude as in the current decadence seen in movies like "Boom" etc. Albeit, the actresses were invariably on the plump side or at least compared to the emaciated looks of current day actresses!Actress Padmini, who starts of with a non glamorous role for an actress, along with Vijayantimala ("Sangam"), were two of the best classical dancers-which an average Westerner would neither appreciate nor has taste for. There were several moments of directorial brilliance as in any RK banner. Young Raju, exposed to the nude teacher, the filming of song "Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan"(sadly, this was the song that was played in Raj Kapoor's final journey, after he collapsed while receiving "Dada Saheb Phalke" Award-the highest honor-bestowed on a film-maker and died of asthma.) These are the scenes only A, Raj Kapoor could do and that made him one of the most beloved director/actor in the World and till this day brings happiness to the millions with his unique talent. Yes, the movie drags with some redundant song and dance numbers but then again, Raj Kapoor had passion for music and the music of Shankar-Jaikishan ("Sangam", "Shree 420", Barsaat", "Jis Desh Mei Ganga Bahti Hai",) was one of the selling point in his films. The duo and 'his soul' the singer Mukesh, never let him down till the end. There is nothing like a bad movie from Raj Kapoor. 'Mera Naam Joker' is not in the league of "Barsaat " "Awaara" or "Sangam" but it had his unique stamp.

Raj Kapoor has done better works before. Honestly, this movie is too long and too slow, with really bad cinematography and shaky cameras. The cinematography towards then end gets better however. Good concept, badly written and directed. I thought I was going to like it because my family and friends told me so, but honestly, it sucked big time. Too melodramatic- more mellow than dramatic. Two songs- "Jeena yahan, Marna Yahan," and "Jaane Kahan gaye Woh din" are really good. I guess that's the only attractive part of the film. There's an unattractive naked woman in the film too. God, I wish I could get the 3 hours of my life back.