Entertainment

Manoj Kumar and his cinematic journey

Manoj Kumar’s image as a patriotic hero started with the 1965 film Shaheed, based on the life of Bhagat Singh. After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan.

Manojkumar0-1Veteran film actor and director Manoj Kumar has been named by the central government on Friday for Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in cinema,  for the year 2015, for his outstanding contribution to country’s  cinema.

The Award consists of a Swarn Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs and a shawl.

A five-member jury comprising Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Salim Khan, Nitin Mukesh and Anup Jalota had unanimously recommended his name for this prestigious Award.

Some of the most popular movies of Manoj Kumar are Woh Kaun Thi, Purab or Paschim, Shor, Beimman, Roti Kappra Aur Makkan, Neel Kamal, Dus Numbri, Himalaya Ki Godh Me, Kranti, Upkaar, Hariyali Aur Raasta, Do Badan and Patthar Ke Sanam.

Manoj Kumar is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes. Born in July 1937, in Abbottabad, then part of Pre-Independent India, he shifted to Delhi when he was just 10.

He decided to enter the film industry  after graduating from Hindu College, University of Delhi.

After making a début in film Fashion in 1957, Manoj Kumar got his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudia in 1960. In the following years, he was featured in films like Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun Thi, Himalaya Ki God Mein.

In the 1960s, his successful films included romantic films like Honeymoon, Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan, Sawan Ki Ghata and social films like Shaadi, Grihasti, Apne Huwe Paraye, Pehchaan, and Aadmi.Upkar

Manoj Kumar’s image as a patriotic hero started with the 1965 film Shaheed, based on the life of Bhagat Singh.

After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan.

The result was Kumar’s magnum opus and his directorial debut, Upkaar. In the mid-1970s, Kumar starred in three hit films: Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) was a social commentary featuring an all-star cast including Zeenat Aman, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan.

Dilip Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Gulzar, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Soumitra Chatterjee, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen were  the past recipients of Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Manoj Kumar is a recipient of National Film Award for the film “Upkaar”. In the year 1992, he was honoured with the Padma Shri,  country’s fourth highest civilian honour.

He is married to Shashi Goswami. He has two sons, Vishal and Kunal.

Big Wire

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most Popular

To Top