Long before Salman Khan played Bharat in his latest film by the same name, actor-producer and director Manoj Kumar was synonymous with the 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 depict the suffering and agony of Bharat, i.e., India!!
From Screen to Nation: Manoj Kumar’s Impact on Bollywood
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, 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 to date.
The film depicted the struggle of revolutionary leader Bhagat Singh for the freedom of India. Manoj Kumar played Bhagat Singh 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, an unsung but powerful lyricist.
The Original Mr. Bharat: Manoj Kumar Patriotic Film Journey
The movie’s tremendous success gave he the courage to take up production, and he jumped into filmmaking with Upkar in 1967. During a chance meeting on a plane, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, impressed by Manoj Kumar’s film Shaheed, asked Kumar to make a film showcasing his “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” slogan. he obliged the Prime Minister with Upkar. The movie won rave reviews and fetched he not just the Best Director’s Filmfare Award but also the Best Movie and Best Story/Dialogue writer Award too! But the biggest compliment that he got was the huge success of the film’s patriotic song <strong>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 message to the NRI Indians that it is good to study abroad, but one must never forget Bhartiya sanskaar! The patriotic songs “Hai Preet Jahan Ki Reet Sada” and “Dulhan Chali, Behen Chali” from the film resonated deeply with audiences, achieving huge success.
In ’the ’80s, he made his life’s magnum opus—Kranti, starring Dilip Kumar in the lead! Kranti was a patriotic film about the 1857 revolution and a blockbuster hit. Like always, the patriotic songs were again hits, like Chana Jor Garam, Zindagi Ki Na Toote LLadi, and Kranti… Kranti.
Interestingly, Manoj Kumar received the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sadbhawana Award in 1999 for his contribution to Hindi cinema.
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