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Journalism of Courage
A street musician in Tbilisi, Georgia, left an Indian traveller awestruck when he broke into an unexpected performance of the iconic Raj Kapoor song ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’. This heartwarming moment quickly went viral, earning admiration from Indians all over the world.
Shreya, a travel content creator who loves sharing her unique experiences around the globe, posted the video of the talented Georgian accordion player serenading her with the classic tune from the 1955 film Shree 420. She was so surprised by the impromptu performance that she jokingly mentioned she never expected to see a “white man in Georgia vibing to Mera Joota Hai Japani” on her 2025 bingo card. She added, “Tipped him and walked away like I just funded art.”
The song, originally sung by Mukesh, is a quintessential Raj Kapoor number that has stood the test of time. The video sparked an outpouring of appreciation online.
Many users recognised him in the comments. A user shared, “I met him in the same spot at Narikala hills. He even sang some Filipino and Egyptian song. Really talented guy. He is a huge fan and calls himself Georgian Raj Kapoor.”
Another user wrote, “the fact that he knows what the lyrics mean. this man knows his art.”
A third individual commented, “So everyone who’s been to tbilisi has met this man? Nice.” A fourth person commented, “Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty and their movies were WILDLY POPULAR in the USSR, especially Amongst the Brezhnev era population.”
The viral moment highlights the enduring legacy of Raj Kapoor in the former USSR where his films like Awaara and Shree 420 were hugely popular. In fact, Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty became household names, with films being dubbed into Russian. Disco Dancer and its hit song ‘Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja’ were cultural milestones in the USSR, further cementing the bond between Bollywood and Russian audiences.
