Manoj Kumar – The Original Mr. Bharat Gave Impetus To Patriotic Films In Bollywood! – Part 4

Long before Salman Khan played Bharat in his latest film by the same name, actor-producer and director Manoj Kumar was synonymous with name Mr. Bharat Kumar! He kept his name Bharat in most of his home production films like Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Kranti, and Clerk. Being a writer, Manoj Kumar used the name Bharat as a metaphor to depicts the suffering and agony of Bharat i.e. India!!

 

Manoj Kumar has made India proud by making some real heart hitting patriotic movies like Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Kranti, etc. Though Manoj Kumar started his career as an actor but it was his creative writing skill and his passion for film direction that made him immortal. Eventually, in 1965 the writer in Manoj Kumar came out with the script of Shaheed, his most acclaimed movie till date.

The film depicted the struggle of revolutionary leader Bhagat Singh for the freedom of India. Manoj Kumar played Bhagat Sing with perfection. The highlight of the film was its super hit patriotic songs like Ai Vatan Ai Vatan Hamko Teri Kasam….O Mera Rang De Basanti Chola….Watan Pe Marne Wale Zinda Rahega Tera Naam…. Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna….The songs were written by Prem Dhawan, unsung but powerful lyrists.

 

The movie’s tremendous success gave Manoj Kumar the courage to take up production and he jumped into film making with Upkar in 1967. It’s reported once while travelling in a plane he happened to meet the then Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri who was quite impressed by his movie Shaheed hence he requested the young filmmaker to make a film, which would bring home his slogan of Jai jawan, Jai Kisan. Manoj Kumar obliged the Prime Minister with Upkar. The movie won rave reviews and fetched Manoj Kumar, not just the Best Director’s Filmfare Award but also the Best movie, Best Story/Dialogue writer Award too! But the biggest compliment that Manoj Kumar got was the huge success of the film’s patriotic song Mere Desh Ki Dharti Sona Ugle, Ugle Heere-Moti…..The song became a permanent fixture for every national day event.

 

Later in his film Purab Aur Paschim, Manoj Kumar gave the massage for the NRI Indians that it is good to study abroad but one must never forget Bhartiya sanskaar! The patriotic songs of the film like Hai Preet Jahan Ki Reet Sada and Dulhan Chali, Behen Chali were a huge hit.

 

In ’80s Manoj Kumar made his life’s magnum opus  – Kranti, starring Dilip Kumar in lead! Kranti was a patriotic film about the 1857 revolution and a blockbuster hit. Like always the patriotic songs were again hit like Chana Jor Garam…. Zindagi Ki Na Toote Ladi….Kranti Kranti ….

 

Interestingly Manoj Kumar received the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sadbhawana Award in 1999 for his contribution to Hindi cinema.