His Struggle, Stardom And Lesser Known Films

Forgotten filmmaker Kuldip Sehgal, of Chunaiya (1948) fame, made a couple of films under three banners: Kuldip Pictures, Tasveeristan and Jubilee Pictures. He introduced Mohan Segal as a director in Aulad (1954), Mohan Kumar and Rajendra Bhatia as assistant directors in the same film, Iqbal Qureshi as composer in Panchayat and a young promising actor in inconsequential roles in films like Fashion (1957), Panchayat (1958), Chand (1952) and as a hero in Maa Beta (1962).

That actor on to become famous as an award winning top writer ~ producer — director — actor: Manoj Kumar aka ‘Bharat’ Kumar because of his films with patriotic sentiments. Incidentally, filmmaker Sohanlal Kanwar also started his career as an employee in Kuldip Sehgal’s company. The Kumar — Kanwar connect made a humble beginning here, culminating in super hits like Pehchan, Beimaan and Sanyasi in the 70s.

SHAHEED (1965)

Revolutionary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death by the British regime on 23 March 1931. As a mark of respect to them, the day is recognised as a Martyrs’ Day!

Manoj Kumar’s classic inspirational biographical film Shaheed (1965) is a befitting tribute to the freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandrasekhar Azad (the latter died on 27 February, 1931).

The National Award winning film credits Kewal P Kashyap as the producer and S Ram Sharma (i.e. Sitaram Sharma) as the director though it is widely known that it was

produced and presented by Manoj Kumar himself. It is believed that he didn’t want to lend his name as producer — director fearing that the failure of the film would affect his acting career.

Shaheed was a moving film on the enthusiastic devotion and intense patriotism for the country and made with the same zeal and zest and raw authenticity. The characters did not merely play their roles as actors but lived the purpose of the ‘freedom terrorists’ who laid their lives for the country’s freedom.

The film had a huge ensemble of male actors ranging from veteran character actors like Pran, Sapru, Karan Dewan, Chaman Puri, Madan Puri, Anwar Husain, Asit Sen, Krishan Dhawan, Kamal Kapoor, Iftikhar to Manoj Kumar (as the charismatic socialist turned revolutionary Bhagat Singh), Anant Marathe (of ‘Ik raat mein do do chand’ and ‘Tadpaoge tadpaalo’ fame) and Shailesh Kumar;

actors who were seen generally as villains like Prem Chopra, Manmohan, Sudhir in positive roles as the brothers in arms of Bhagat Singh and a few nondescript but known faces. A pleasant surprise was the lyricist — composer Prem Dhawan playing a cameo role. Kamini Kaushal (as the mother of Bhagat Singh), Nirupa Roy and Indrani Mukherji filled the female cast.

Shaheed had some well written and memorable songs with patriotic feel and fervour without being jingoistic or nationalistic; Pagdi sambhaal jatta, Mera rang de basanti chola, Ae watan, ae watan, humko teri

qasam and Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai (the last mentioned written by Syed Shah Mohammed Hasan aka Bismil Azimabadi).

As is well known, Lal Bahadur Shastri came to watch the movie for ten minutes and, such was the impact of the film that he ended up experiencing the full film.

He took a promise from Manoj Kumar to make another film on the contribution of the jawans and kisans (the soldiers and farmers) which took the form of the story of Upkar which he wrote during his journey back to Bombay from Delhi by train.

Shaheed, the flag waving film, with its cultural nuances and secularist spirit, had several passionate moments of patriotic and partisan sentiments which leave you feeling inspired and motivated, hopeful and optimistic. At the same time, it engenders a sense of self directed resentment and remorse for not being a martyr (shaheed) yourself.

Sixties struggle

Manoj Kumar’s earlier films as a hero included films like: Honeymoon, Kaanch Ki Gudiya, Naqli Nawab, Reshmi Rumaal, Suhaag Sindoor, Apna Banaake Dekho, Banarsi Thug, Dr. Vidya, Hariyali aur Raasta, Shaadi, Grihasthi, Ghar Basaake Dekho, all released between 1960 to 1963. While his contemporaries Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor, who started in and around the mid 50s, had already established themselves by the early 1960s.

Struggle to stardom

His rise to stardom began with Raj Khosla’s musical mystery film Woh Kaun Thi (1964) followed by Bedaag, Gumnaam and Himalay Ki Godmein (1965), Do Badan (apparently inspired by Dilip Kumar’s Deedar) and Sawan Ki Ghata (1966), Anita, Pathhar Ke Sanam and his own film under his banner Vishal Pictures (named after his eldest son) Upkar (1967), Aadmi and Neel Kamal (1968), Saajan (1969); many of them were big hits.

Seventies: Sustained success

The spate of success continued in the 70s with films like: Mera Naam Joker, Purab aur Paschim, Pehchan, Yaadgaar, Beimaan, Shor, Roti Kapda aur Makaan, Sanyasi, Dus Numbri, Amaanat. Besides these, he acted in his own films: Purab aur Paschim, Shor, Roti Kapda aur Makaan and Shirdi Ke Saibaba (made by him with participation of devotees of Saibaba).

The making of Manoj

The origin of Manoj Kumar’s screen name is a fascinating story. Inspired by Dilip Kumar and his performances, particularly in Filmistan’s classic Shaheed (1948) and the light hearted Shabnam (1949), in which Dilip Kumar played a character named Manoj, a young Hari Kishan Goswami, then just 11 years old, started idolising and worshipping the legendary actor. These two films held special significance for Hari Kishan. His deep admiration for the thespian inspired him to adopt the screen name ‘Manoj’ when he began his acting career. Later, when he turned filmmaker, he paid tribute to his idol by making a film titled Shaheed, albeit with a different storyline. This gesture was a heartfelt ode to the Tragedy King. Interestingly, Kamini Kaushal went on to play Manoj Kumar’s screen mother in a number of films beginning with Shaheed (1965).

Awards — accolades

Manoj Kumar won a number of popular as well as State and National Awards in different categories as also several lifetime achievement awards including the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padmashri for his significant contribution. Although his artistically crafted commercial films have received widespread attention, little is known about his patriotic film Shaheed, which marked his entry as a ‘filmmaker’.

Eclipsed in the eighties

In the 80s, he made films like Kranti, Kalyug Ka Ramayan, Santosh, Clerk and Deshwasi and acted in them. None of them could create the magic of his earlier films. However, among these, the only commercially noteworthy film was Kranti in which he cast his idol and favourite actor Dilip Kumar.