The secular nationalist Manoj Kumar aka Bharat: A tribute to a doyen

Bharat, that’s how we know Manoj Kumar, who gave us films that made us proud Indians. Shaheed, the 1965 biopic on Bhagat Singh, was the first step towards doing patriotic films. Upkar (1967) conferred the title ‘Bharat’ on him for his lifetime.

This nationalist spirit was largely a result of the Partition, which had a profound impact on a young Harkrishna Giri Goswami (born in 1937), whose family had relocated from Abbottabad in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) to Delhi.

There’s a story that on 15^th August 1947, the father took the young boy to Red Fort to see the Indian tricolour unfurled on Independence Day. This tryst with destiny, despite the tragic death of his young uncle in the riots, sowed the seeds of a secular spirit.

Manoj Kumar once quipped: “I came to Bombay (in 1957) with two targets. One was to become a hero. And the other was to earn Rs. 3 lakhs – two lakhs for my parents and one for my siblings.”

Starting from Fashion (1957), his good looks earned him fame and fortune with blockbusters in quick succession (1961-62): Kanch Ki Gudiya, Reshmi Rumal, Piya Milan Ki Aas, Apna Banake Dekho and Nakli Nawab.

**Manoj Kumar with his family in this file picture (All pictures sourced from social media/Internet)**

Directors and producers came calling to cash in the prodigal phenomenon. Vijay Bhatt cast him opposite Mala Sinha in Heriyali Aur Rasta (1962) which became a Silver Jubilee hit.

Despite being reckoned among the top stars, Manoj Kumar never lost his empathy for social upliftment – acting in low-budget films like Grahasti (1963) and Apne Huye Paraye (1964).

Then came another tryst with destiny for Manoj Kumar. Meeting Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then prime minister of India.

Imagine the feelings of a youth barely in his mid-20s when the short-statured man makes his ambitions fly with a simple statement: “Can you make a film on my slogan Jai Jawan – Jai Kisan!”

The rest is history …

Box Office Hits of Manoj Kumar

Raj Khosla’s Woh Kaun Thi (1964) with Sadhana Shivdasani and Do Badan (1966) with Asha Parekh.
Vijay Bhatt’s Heriyali Aur Rasta (1962) with Mala Sinha & Himalay Ki God Mein (1965) again with Mala Sinha.
Thriller Gumnaam (1965) was the highest-grossing movie that year, earning Rs. 2.6 crores.
Sawan Ki Ghata (1966) and Patthar Ke Sanam (1967).
Actor – Director Upkar (1967), where he starred as a farmer and a soldier – and gave Pran a break from being typecast as a villain to the cult image of a character actor. This film won multiple awards at the Filmfare Awards 1968, including Best Story, Best Dialogue, Best Director, and Best Film.

Followed up his success with more films such as Aadmi (1968), Purab Aur Pachhim (1971), and Be-Imaan (1972).
Other Prize Winners (Actor – Director)

~ Shor (1972)

~ Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974): Best Director (Filmfare Awards in 1975).

Later Classics: Sanyasi (1975), Pehchan (1975), & Dus Numbri (1976).
Directed Dilip Kumar, his idol, in the film Kranti (1981), which explored the Indian struggle for Independence.
Acted in Kalyug Aur Ramayan (1987), Clerk (1989), and Maidan-e-Jung (1995).
Directed son Kunal Goswami in Jai Hind (1999).