How Will Mumbai Celebrate Raj Khosla's Centenary?

Mumbai, May 29 (NationPress) A remarkable retrospective called ‘Raj Khosla 100 – Bambai Ka Babu’ is scheduled to take place at the renowned Regal Cinema in Mumbai to commemorate the centenary of producer-director Raj Khosla.

This special event will welcome esteemed personalities such as actress Asha Parekh, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, and Raj Khosla's family. It will also feature discussions led by Amborish Roychoudhury, a National Award-winning author and the writer of ‘Raj Khosla: The Authorized Biography’.

The retrospective will highlight three of Khosla's classic films, showcasing his diverse cinematic prowess, spanning from noir thrillers to heartfelt romances and vibrant rural dramas. The afternoon session will screen ‘Bambai Ka Babu’ featuring Dev Anand and Suchitra Sen at 12 PM, followed by ‘C.I.D.’ at 3 PM. The evening's highlight at 6:30 PM will be ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’ starring Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, and Asha Parekh.

Scheduled for May 31, this event is organized by the Film Heritage Foundation, known for its outstanding efforts in film restoration, memorabilia auctions, and retrospectives.

“The Film Heritage Foundation is honored to celebrate the legacy of this remarkable filmmaker alongside his family on his 100th birth anniversary on May 31, 2025. We will present films like ‘Bambai Ka Babu’, ‘C.I.D’, and the iconic ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’, which was a precursor to ‘Sholay’. I extend my gratitude to the NFDC-National Film Archive of India for their support in screening the restored versions of ‘Bambai Ka Babu’ and ‘C.I.D.’,” stated Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of the Film Heritage Foundation.

C.I.D. and Bambai Ka Babu have undergone a 4K restoration by the NFDC – National Film Archive of India as part of the National Film Heritage Mission, initiated by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.

“For over 40 years, the NFDC-NFAI has preserved a 35mm release print of Bambai Ka Babu, which made the 4K restoration feasible. This screening at Regal, Mumbai offers cinema enthusiasts a rare chance to experience Bambai Ka Babu in its newly restored 4K format. This initiative is part of the ambitious restoration project led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. I am thrilled to present another classic, C.I.D., restored by NFDC NFAI, as part of the centenary celebrations for the legendary director Raj Khosla, who was immensely appreciated by audiences in 2023,” remarked Prakash Magdum, MD of NFDC.

The event is open to the public, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis.