Showing posts with label patriotic film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patriotic film. Show all posts

Wednesday 24 July 2019

Manoj Kumar -He sold patriotism at the box office


He is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname Bharat Kumar.

It was Manoj Kumar who stirred this nationalism in public consciousness. He sold patriotism at the box office in a poetic fashion.
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri after the 1965 war advised Manoj Kumar to make a film highlighting the ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ slogan. The idea of making Upkar initiated in that meeting with Shastri Ji. He produced and directed the film.
In it, he played both a soldier and a farmer. The film was also noted for the famous song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti", written by Gulshan Bawra, composed by Kalyanji-Anandji and sung by Mahendra KapoorUpkaar was a hit and won Kumar his first Filmfare Best Director Award.
The success of the film encouraged him to make more films on this subject.
Manoj returned to patriotic themes in Purab Aur Paschim (1970), in which life in the East and West are juxtaposed.
He made Roti Kapda Aur Makan (1974) which was a social commentary, featuring an all-star cast including Zeenat Aman, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan. He won his second Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film Roti Kapda Makan.
In 1981, Kumar reached the peak of his career when he got the opportunity to direct his idol, Dilip Kumar, as well as to star in Kranti, a story about the struggle for Indian independence in the 19th century. Kranti was the last notable successful Hindi film in his career. He also starred in the hit. 
After Kranti in 1981, Kumar's career began to decline, when the films he did with him in lead role like Kalyug Aur Ramayan in 1987 and later Clerk in 1989 failed at the box office. In 1989, he cast Pakistani actors Mohammad Aliand Zeba in his film Clerk
For him songs were always integral to the story and conveyed what dialogues could not. “Songs like ‘Kasme Vaade Pyaar Wafa’, ‘Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai’ or ‘Jab Koi Tumhara Hriday Tod De’ add depth to the narrative and this was possible because he himself was involved in the process. Kalyanji-Anandji always acknowledged his contribution. 
He was born on 24 July 1937 in Abbottabad, a town in the North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan.His family had to migrate from Jandiala Sher Khan to Delhi due to the Partition.After graduating from Hindu College, University of Delhi, he decided to enter the film industry.He made his début in Fashion in 1957.
He is remembered for his versatile performances in films like Hariyali Aur RaastaWoh Kaun Thi?Himalaya Ki God MeinDo BadanUpkarPatthar Ke SanamNeel KamalPurab Aur PaschimBeimaanRoti Kapda Aur MakaanDus NumbriSanyasi and Kranti
Song of Upkar 1967


Song of Upkar 1967


Song of Purab Aur Paschim 1970


Song of Roti Kapda Aur Makan 1974


Song of Kranti 1981




Tuesday 2 October 2018

Mahatma Gandhi and Hindi Cinema



Mahatma Gandhi is considered a symbol of peace as he chose to start a non-violent movement comprising of various Satyagrahas all over the country during India’s freedom struggle. Today on his birth anniversary I look forward to Gandhi's connection with cinema.
In an interview in Harijan in 1942, he reiterated that he had never been to the cinema, he feels that “cinema films are often bad”.  Gandhi had seen only 2 films in his life both while he was convalescing from malaria in Juhu, Mumbai, in 1944. The first was Michael Curtiz’s Mission To Moscow(1943), which he apparently disliked. The other was Vijay Bhatt’s Ram Rajya (1943), a Hindi mythological, more suited to his tastes. A newspaper report described this private screening as a “historical event in Indian cinema”, and said that, in the end, “Mahatmaji seemed quite cheerful”.
You would be surprised to note that the first attempt to make a film on gandhi was when D. W. Griffith was approached by the British government to make an anti-Gandhi film in 1923 (Chapman and Cull 2009: 189 – 90), but this film was never made.There are many footages of Gandhi Ji during the Freedom movement but the first documentary was made by A. K. Chettiar’s 1940 film Mahatma Gandhi, which has footage of Gandhi from 1912 that was shot by many cinematographers.

The first film that comes to our mind on Mahatma Gandhi is the 1982 British-Indian film, Gandhi. Directed by Richard Attenborough, the film features Ben Kingsley in the title role. You would again surprise to note that Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru was interested in a film on Mahatma Gandhi to be made by same Richard Attenborough in 1960s but it couldn't be materialised. later Indira Gandhi agreed for a joint venture with Govt of India.
The film focuses on his early life in South Africa and follows through the era when he took part in the freedom struggle of India until his assassination in 1948. It’s undoubtedly one of the best films on Gandhi.

Before this, a documentary film "Mahatma: Life of Gandhi" was released in 1968. This documentary was released in different versions including a 5-hour long English version as well as a Hindi version of 2 hours and 20 minutes. This black-and-white documentary details the life of Mahatma Gandhi using animation, live photography, and some old stills.

Sardar is a 1993 biopic on the one man titled the “Iron Man of India”. The film is directed by Ketan Mehta and features Paresh Rawal as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. While the film is not entirely based on Mahatma Gandhi and features the life of Sardar Patel. Anu Kapoor played the role of Gandhi.

In 1996 another film on Gandhi "The Making of Mahatma" is another joint collaboration, this time between India and South Africa, which features the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
Directed by Shyam Benegal, the film focuses on the life of Mahatma Gandhi (played by Rajit Kapoor) during his 21 years stay in South Africa where he actually adapted his non-violent movement against racial discrimination. The film is adapted from the book titled The Apprenticeship of a Mahatma authored by Fatima Meer.
In 2000 Kamal Hasan made a film on Gandhi " Hey Ram". The film focuses on the famous Partition of India and the resultant murder of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse. 
In 2005 a film called "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara" was released. Actually, the film focuses on the life of a retired Hindi Professor who believes that he killed Mahatma Gandhi following an incident that happened in his childhood. The role of the professor was played by Anupam Kher.

In 2006 a film Lage Raho Munna Bhai released. In this film, Munna Bhai’s character starts seeing Mahatma Gandhi’s spirit that guides him to the path of non-violence and peace. The film became popular because of Gandhigiri.
Gandhi, My Father is a 2007 Indian biographical drama film by Feroz Abbas Khan (not to be confused with actor Feroz Khan). It was produced by Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor,The film explores the troubled relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and his son Harilal Gandhi. Darshan Jariwala played the role of Gandhi.
In 2011 a multilingual film called Gandhi To Hitler released.The film features Raghubir Yadav as Adolf Hitler, whereas Avijit Dutt plays a minor role in the film as Mohandas Gandhi. The film is based on “The Downfall” letters penned by Mahatma Gandhi addressed to Hitler. 

                    Bapu Ki Yeh Amar Kahaani


Song of Jagriti 1954

Song of Lage Raho Munnabhai



                                  Gandhi Film Theme music - "Discovery of India"







Friday 23 March 2018

Bollywood Films Based on Bhagat Singh


 Martyrs’ Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas is observed on March 23.On this day in 1931. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru  sacrificed their lives for India’s independence.The lives of these freedom fighters have not only inspired India’s independence movement but also Bollywood.The first film based on the life of Bhagat Singh was released in 1954. The role of Bhagat Singh was played by Jairaj..The next film released in 1963 Shaheed Bhagat Singh this role was played by Shammi Kapoor.After this in 1965 came Manoj Kumar's "Shaheed" After 35 years Sonu Sood played this role in 2002 film"Shaheed e Azam".
Ajay Devgan also played the role in The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002),same year another film released "23rd March 1931: Shaheed" (2002) in this film Bobby Deol played the role of Bhagat Singh.
Beside this Som Dutt,the younger brother of Sunil Dutt played the role of Bhagat Singh in 1974 film "Amar Shaheed Bhagat Singh" made in Punjabi and Hindi.
Shaheed-e-Azad Bhagat Singh

 The first film based on the life of Bhagat Singh. Directed by Jagdish Gautam, the film features Prem Abeed, Jairaj, Smriti Biswas and Ashita Mazumdar in lead roles. The film also has the classic patriotic song ‘Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab humare dil main hain..’ in Mohammed Rafi’s melodious voice.
Song from Song from Shaheed-e-Azad Bhagat Singh 1954

Shaheed Bhagat Singh (1963)

 Directed by KN Bansal, the film features Shammi Kapoor essaying the role of Bhagat Singh. Besides Shammi Kapoor, the film stars Shakeela, Premnath, Ulhas and Achla Sachdev.  

Song from Shaheed Bhagat Singh (1963)

Shaheed (1965)

 it was produced by Kewal Kashyap and directed by S. Ram Sharma and stars Manoj KumarKamini KaushalPranIftekharNirupa RoyPrem ChopraMadan Puri and Anwar Hussain in lead roles.Shaheed was the first of Manoj Kumar's series of patriotic films,

Song from Shaheed  (1965)

Amar Shaheed Bhagat Singh 1974

 Directed by Omi Bedi. With Rajni Bala, Som Dutt, Achala Sachdev, Dara Singh. ... Also Known As: Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh The film was made in Punjabi and hindi released in 1974.

Song from Amar Shaheed Bhagat Singh 1974

Shaheed-E-Azam (2002)

It is a 2002 Hindi film directed by Sukumar Nair. The film, based upon the life of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, caused some controversy as the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a notice to the producers calling for a ban of the movie.It was released in 2002.


Song from Shaheed-E-Azam (2002)

The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
It is a 2002 Indian historical biographical film about Bhagat Singh,. It was directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and starred Ajay DevgnSushant Singh, and D. SantoshAt the 50th National Film AwardsThe Legend of Bhagat Singh won the Best Feature Film in Hindi and Devgn received the Best Actor award.

Song from the legend of bhagat singh (2002)

23rd March 1931: Shaheed (2002)
It is a 2002 Indian Hindi historical biographical film about Bhagat Singh, directed by Guddu Dhanoa which depicts the events leading up to the hanging of Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and his companions Rajguru and Sukhdev .The film stars Bobby Deol as Bhagat Singh, his elder brother Sunny Deol as Chandrashekhar Azad 

Song from 23rd march 1931 shaheed (2002)

Rang De Basanti (2006)

The movie revolves around the life of a group of friends who work together on a documentary film on the revolutionaries.The film features an ensemble cast comprising Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Siddharth Narayan, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni and British actress Alice Patten.