Unter dem Mantel der Nacht

The film "Jaagte Raho" starts with Raj Kapoor, a poor person looking to quench his thirst. Thirsty, he enters an apartment building where he is branded as a thief and is constantly on the run. Ironically, where ever he hides, he meets other so called "reputable" citizens who all are equal to thieves. The film captures the corruption rampant in the society and rips apart the moral fabric that shields the upper echelons of society. The protagonist isn't a criminal, but he is treated like one, which is quite comparable to the real world. The film exposes a range of vices while at the same time remaining funny. The theme which the film showcases could have happened anywhere. The protagonist is the generic poor man to whom society has bestowed little. Raj Kapoor gave a fine performance as the peasant, even though he hardly has a few dialogues in the film, but his face speaks for itself. The film is brilliantly done. The supporting cast of Motilal and Pradeep are also good. The film is both a comedy and a tragedy. It makes you laugh and then makes you cry at the pitiable state of society.

Jagte Raho is the simple story of a naive peasant who in hopes of improving his lifestyle, a poor peasant re-locates to Bombay virtually penniless. It is late at night and he is thirsty, and he is unable to find water anywhere. Then he sneaks into a multi-storied apartment complex, and is mistaken for a thief. The complex consists of over 200 units, and is housing nearly a 1000 people they all set out to hunt him down. Whilst evading capture, he inadvertently exposes the venality and dishonesty of the building's middle class occupants.

The film shows the double standards of our society, the cruelty and the corruptness, but not in a stereotypical way. It is natural and real. This naive peasant represents the simple common man who becomes a victim for no fault of his own. He encounters different sorts of thefts and crimes committed by those so-called "respectable" citizens of the city, those who call him a thief and chase him just because he yearns for a few drops of water so that they can hide their own misdemeanors. This is so unbelievable yet so true.

The character of the naïve peasant requires great facial expression as it don't have many dialogues but he emotes constantly, and Raj Kapoor being a Theater person have brilliantly achieved this.

I think that to analyze this film, firstly one has to understand the social environment of that era. During that time people where migrating to metros in search of jobs and stable life. However here they become victim of the bourgeois society. Film-Maker has very brilliantly weaved the beautiful story in this concept. I liked the metaphors used in the film which creates an impact on the viewer. Like a character of a child in a climax is a metaphor of new beginning. There are many more such metaphors in this film. There are sometimes when overuse of background scores have spoiled the impact of the emotions. Sometimes the acting is also too dramatic and theatrical to digest. However I also think that this is deliberated by the director as during those times audience demand such things which I can say after watching films from those era.

Jagte Raho is one of the most amazing classics of Indian cinema. It is sad, comic, tragic, humorous, authentic, educative and entertaining. This magnificent social dramedy relates the story of one poor and innocent peasant who comes to the big city of Bombay in hopes of improving his life. However, while looking for some water to quench his thirst, he is constantly branded a thief by the citizens of the city and chased like a criminal. Looking for a hideout, still thirsty and hungry, he enters an apartment building, running from one flat to another, and ironically, every flat he hides in, he meets different "elite" citizens, all of whom can be easily called thieves.

The film shows the double standards of our society, the cruelty and the corruptness, but not in a stereotypical way. It is natural and real. This naive peasant represents the simple common man who becomes a victim for no fault of his own, not only in India but in the entire world. He encounters different sorts of thefts and crimes committed by those so-called "respectable" citizens of the city, those who call him a thief and chase him just because he yearns for a few drops of water so that they can hide their own misdemeanors. This is so unbelievable yet so true.

Raj Kapoor is the film's main protagonist and may I say, this is one of the finest works of his career, both as a filmmaker and particularly as an actor. The fear in his eyes is so haunting. You really feel for him as you witness his pain, his thirst, his misery, his innocence and his helplessness. The film's final scenes are absolutely fantastic. Kapoor's outburst on the roof of the building in front of the entire nation as he reproaches them for their inhumanity is well-done.

The next two scenes are the film's final and finest. The first, when he gets onto the porch of another flat where he meets the cute-as-a-button Daisy Irani is heart-breaking. Irani's five-minute role of a kind-hearted, joyful and fearless little girl (which is contrary to the rest of the building's residents) who motivates the peasant to exit the building and face the people, is very memorable. There starts the film's best song, "Jago Mohan Pyaare" and we meet a young woman played by Nargis. The graciousness in her eyes and the brief, wordless interaction between Kapoor and Nargis create a magical, unforgettable scene which brings to a beautiful ending. See the film to understand how beautiful it is. This truly is an extraordinary picture.

"Jagte Raho" a movie of Black & White celluloid era, in-my-humble-opinion, should be added to the International Movie Hall of Fame. Why? Just for one simple reason. OK. There are more than one reasons. This movie entertains, educates, makes you laugh and cry all at the same time. And to top it all, sends a striking message of humanity to the human beings all around.

What a realistic depiction of a common man's life! The movie narrates the naked truth of life's challenges in a tinsel town - the city of Bombay, especially for those unsophisticated, naive, innocent souls, who dreamed of making it big in that La-La land.

Every second of your life is a struggle even if it's for a drop of drinking water. What a great acting by (my idol) Raj Kapoor (R.I.P)! A very simple concept, a great story & a script and the deep message it sent to the society or should I say the world over.

How a thirsty innocent man is deliberately branded a thief by some of the biggest phonies of this world who like to call themselves "Shareef" (reputable) citizens. And these so-called reputable citizens make a scapegoat out of this poor, helpless and vulnerable soul, just so that they can hide the skeletons of their own in the proverbial "closet".

It absolutely disappoints and saddens me to see a man go through what he went through, in one night just for a mere sip of tap water to quench his thirst.

What a great performance by the entire crew (on and off the screen), and especially, Raj Kapoor and Motilal!

One has to watch the movie with a perspective that even today, millions of people back home in India(and many other parts of the world) have daily struggles to put up for a few drops of water…

…And this makes my heart cry and eyes filled with water.

Too bad they don't make movies like this anymore.

Long live Raj Kapoor and "Jagte Raho".

This Movie is a masterpiece.Why? The user before me already explained before me. I am from Bengal & Satyajit Ray obviously occupies a very high place in my heart. But Raj Kapoor was also unparalleled in his own domain. First person to introduce dream sequence in a song, First person to shoot a movie outside of his country & finally Bobby the movie which ushered in the whole era of teen romance. This movie exposes the mask that the so called good people wear in our society , the sanctimonious ones with holier than thou attitudes. However one thing I have to say about this that the Bengali version is just brilliant. Role which is played by Motilal in the Hindi Version is played by Chabbi Biswas. Chabbi Biswas if anyone has seen him will know that he was& still is the best actor in India.He was an actor of caliber who told Ray, when he was been instructed by Ray in the movie Jalshaghar, that not to tell him what his job was. Coming back to the movie if anyone manages to watch the Bengali version of this movie please do.Its way better than the Hindi Version.