Summaries

Synopsis

Mera Naam Joker is the story of Raju (Raj Kapoor), considered the best circus clown ever. Ever since Raju's father died in an accident during his performance, Raju's mother had been repulsed by the circus. As luck would have it, Raju had a natural affinity towards the circus world. The film traces Raju's journey from his childhood to the day of his last performance.

The first chapter is about the adolescent, chubby, clumsy 16-year-old, Raju (Rishi Kapoor). Unlike the rest of the students at his private Christian school, Raju is poor and lives nearby with his mother and no one else.When a new teacher, Mary, comes to his school, she encourages Raju to find his ambitions and makes him more confident in himself. One day, after coming home, Raju asks his mother what his deceased father did. Despite rejecting this question in the past, she finally answers that he had worked as a clown in the circus and died in an accident there. Raju proclaims that he will be just like his father and make everyone laugh, to the horror of his mother, who says his father had only given her tears.

Raju deals with his infatuation with his teacher Mary (Simi Garewal). She gives him confidence in himself, and he discovers the world of femininity and desire. Mary is older than him. Mary's lessons nevertheless aren't lost as Raju comes to realize that he was born to make the world laugh, despite his own troubles.

On a school trip to the forest, Mary accidentally falls into the river. After she comes out, Raju becomes entranced by the sight of her leg. Mary takes off her wet clothes in a bush by a lake and this is secretly eyed by Raju, in this scene her white bra and panties are seen. Later lying in bed in house Raju imagines that Mary is fully naked, the naked scene shows that a woman is waving her clothes by a lake and her nudity is shown from behind, one of her breasts is partially shown and buttocks are shown clearly.

He goes to the church to confess (Raju thinks himself a sinner for imagining his teacher nude); and after he does that Mary sees him there, and when he says he committed a sin she says that he can't have committed a sin as he is a child, Raju replies that he isn't one.

When Mary and the rest of the students leave for the holidays, Raju gifts her a toy clown that his father had. Afterwards, he roams around the school, lonely and depressed.

The boy falls in love with his teacher, not realizing that the relationship is only in his mind and one sided. Mary probably guesses his juvenile crush on her but doesn't stop him. Instead, she introduces him to her fiance David (Manoj Kumar). David realizes that Raju has a crush on Mary and doesn't react. He also encourages Raju to pursue a career as a joker as he believes that's the only way Raju will be able to live with the heartbreak. Raju is from a poor family and has to conduct street plays to earn his school fees. The school is a upmarket place & one of the parents complains about Raju's antics and the principal decides to kick Raju out. At the same time Mary invites Raju to her wedding as David's best man.He attends her wedding in a state of false merriment. Before the newlyweds drive off to their new life, David gifts Raju back the toy clown.

After his first heartbreak, the story follows adult Raju (Raj Kapoor) who has found work with Gemini Circus as a clown. Raju and his ill mother move to several cities over the years before coming to Bombay.Raju's dream materializes! The circus is owned by Mahendra Singh (Dharmendra). The circus hosts a visiting group of artists from Russia, and which includes Marina (Ksenia Ryabinkina), the lead Trapezist. Raju is hanging around the circus, when he is confused for a Russian, due to his blue eyes.Raju is further mistaken for a lion tamer & Raju doesn't resist as he is paid Rs 200 for the act. Raju enters the lion cage and barely escapes when the Indian lion tamer Sher Singh (Dara Singh) of Mahendra's circus sabotages the act to kill Raju. Raju is caught and brought before Mahendra, who decides to hire him as a cleaner in the circus when other members of the circus troupe show sympathy towards Raju.

Raju gradually falls in love with Marina. He learns some simple tricks from the Russians and Mahendra gives Raju a chance to perform in front of the crowd. Raju's act is a resounding success.He comes back to his mother and tells her that he got a job, but leaves out the details. She hopes that he will be able to find a wife to "complete" the family.

Soon, Raju is hired as a clown, and eventually he and Marina fall in love, with his toy clown being given away once again. However, Mahendra reminds him that the artists will be going back soon, and discourages his love. Raju and Marina meet again, and Marina realizes that his mother sees her as his future wife. She visits her again, but leaves her the toy clown departs tearfully. Raju's mother realizes through the poster that wrapped the toy that he is a clown once again, and rushes to the circus on the day of the Russians' last performance. Seeing him on the trapeze, Raju's mother dies, being reminded of the accident which caused her husband's death. Despite his sorrow, Raju performs as a clown that night. Afterwards, he decides to resign, citing his mother death. The chapter ends with Raju seeing Marina off at the airport.

In the final chapter, Raju has left the circus and wanders aimlessly. Raju throws his toy clown into the sea. A dog runs out to catch it and gives it back. The dog belongs to the orphan Meenu, and the three partner up to make a roadside show and live together in an abandoned house.

One day, Meenu's shirt is torn and Raju, upon discovering that she is a girl, deserts her. After a while, he comes back to her home, where she explains that her real name is Meena (Padmini) and that she had to act like a boy to survive on her own in the city, which she had fled to, to achieve her dream of becoming a famous actress.

Raju gifts her a Saree, but despite the explanation, Raju is mad that their friendship was based on a lie and leaves. After Meena confesses her love for him, Raju changes his mind. Their singing gets noticed and the duo start performing at a Qawwali venue.

One day, the dog gets taken by the city pound, mistaken for a stray. While Raju mourns the loss of their companion, Meena says that they have no use for it anymore. Her attitude shocks Raju and he figures that she only uses love as a tool to use others. Despite his pity for the Qawwali venue owner who had already Pre-paid them, Meena makes them move into theatre acting. While Meena maintains that she loves him, Raju is suspicious. After a while, Meena is noticed by movie star Rajendra Kumar, who wants a new heroine for his next film. Although Raju accompanies Meena to the screen tests, Kumar tells him that in order for her to become a great actress, Raju must leave. After a farewell at their old house, Raju is left alone with his toy clown.

Raju always carries a clown doll which belonged to his father. Every time he falls in love, he gives away his beloved doll, only to see it come back to him. The doll is used as a metaphor for Raju's simplistic heart where there is room for everyone.At the end of the film, Raju is shown doing his final act, as promised to Mahendra. He invites the three ladies he was in love with, to watch his last performance. He also reassures the audience that he will soon be back with more to make his audience laugh again.