PrashantNews
Ace Bollywood director and actor Manoj Kumar, who died at the age of 87 in Mumbai on Friday, was a quintessential tragedian in many of the central characters in his patriotic and romantic movies.
We all grew up hearing the patriotic songs of Kumar’s movies like Shaheed and Upkar especially during every Independence and Republic days. Ai Vatan Ai Vatan and Hai Preet Jahan Ki Reet Sada are among few songs which will remain immortal.
Besides, some of the most popular sad songs of 1960s like Raha Gardishon mein hardam, Diwano se yeh mat puchho, teri yaad dil se bhulane chala hun reflect only Kumar’s strong image in the Bollywood of a man who never compromised with the wretched system. The rebel in most of characters of Manoj Kumar was naturally imbued with a sense of calm and serenity.
Kumar, who given nickname Bharat Kumar, died in a Mumbai hospital on Friday (April 4, 2025) due to heart and age-related complications.
He was the recipient of Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest decoration in the film industry for the year 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also an ardent fan of Kumar.
Kumar was born in Abbottabad in Pakistan (then British India) on July 24, 1937. He was the recipient of seven Filmfare awards and also Padam Shree. He left behind his wife Shashi Goswami and two children including Kunal Goswami. His birth name was Harikrishan Giri Goswami.
After the partition, the family members of Kumar migrated to Delhi. He later moved to Mumbai to try his luck in the movies and decided to name himself Manoj Kumar inspired by the character of late Dilip Kumar in Shabnam .
Kumar began his career in 1957 movie Fashion but he got real break in the movie Haryalai Aur Rasta with several super-duper hit songs in 1962. Thereafter he acted in many hit movies like Woh Kaun Thi, Shaheed, Gumnam, Do Badan and Himalaya Ki God Mein. As a director his first movie was Upkar. As full time producer and director, he made Purab aur Paschim and later several other movies like kranti with Dilip Kumar. Many of his movies were based on the freedom movement themes.
In one of the interesting anecdote, late Indira Gandhi didn’t like the song Hai Mehengai yeh kahan se ayi.. from Kumar’s hit movie Roti Kapda Aur Makan. For a brief period, this song remained banned especially during the emergency time.