Manoj Kumar
Kumar in 2012
Born
Harikrishan Goswami

(1937-07-24) 24 July 1937
Abbottabad, North-West Frontier Province, British India
(present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)
NationalityIndian
Other namesBharat Kumar
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film director
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
  • lyricist
  • editor
  • politician
Years active1957–1999
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
SpouseShashi Goswami
Children2; including Kunal Goswami
RelativesManish R Goswami (brother)
Honours

Manoj Kumar (born Harikrishan Goswami; 24 July 1937) is an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is known for acting and making films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname Bharat Kumar.[upper-alpha 1] He is the recipient of a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards, in varied categories. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1992 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016 by the Government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema and arts.

Early life

Kumar was born into a Hindu Brahmin[1] family in Abbottabad, a town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan).[2] His birth name is Harikrishan Giri Goswami. When he was 10, his family migrated from Jandiala Sher Khan to Delhi due to the Partition.[3] Kumar pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hindu College before trying his luck in films. When he was young, he admired actors Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Kamini Kaushal and decided to name himself Manoj Kumar, after Dilip Kumar's character in Shabnam.[2][4]

Career

1957-1965: Debut and rise to prominence

After making a little-noticed début in Fashion (1957), Kumar landed his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudia (1960) opposite Saida Khan. Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961) and Reshmi Roomal (1961) followed, setting the stage for the Vijay Bhatt-directed Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962) opposite Mala Sinha. Kumar then appeared with Sadhana in Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi (1964), and reunited with Vijay Bhatt and Mala Sinha in Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965).

Kumar also starred in Shaheed (1965), based on the life of Bhagat Singh, the Independence revolutionary. It received positive reviews from critics & went on to become a hit at the box office.

1966-1981: Stardom

Kumar and Raj Khosla repeated their successful actor-director partnership with Do Badan (1966), which was remembered for many reasons, including Raj Khosla's direction, Kumar's performance and songs written by the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni, among others.[5]

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 (hail the soldier, hail the farmer).[2][6]

The result was Kumar's directorial debut Upkar (1967). In this award-winning film, he played both a soldier and a farmer. The film was also noted for the song Mere Desh Ki Dharti, written by Gulshan Bawra, composed by Kalyanji-Anandji and sung by Mahendra Kapoor. Upkar won him his first Filmfare Best Director Award.[7]

He returned to patriotic themes in Purab Aur Paschim (1970), in which life in the East and West are juxtaposed. The film Pehchaan directed by Sohanlal Kanwar had Kumar opposite Babita and was successful.

In 1972, he starred in Be-Imaan (for which he won the Best Actor) and later directed and starred in Shor (1972). The latter, opposite Nanda, was not a huge box office success on its release, but has gained cult status over the years. It featured the memorable song Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai, a duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, which was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and written by Santosh Anand.

In the mid-1970s Kumar starred in three back-to-back blockbusters; Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (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 Aur Makaan.[8] Sanyasi (1975), a religious-themed comedy, starring Kumar and Hema Malini, was hugely successful.[9] Dus Numbri (1976) also gave Kumar, Pran, Prem Nath and Hema top billing.[10]

He also starred in the hit Punjabi film Jat Punjabi (1979).

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.[11]

He consistently liked working with actors Prem Nath, Pran, Prem Chopra, Kamini Kaushal and Hema Malini in his career. His closest friends from the industry included Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, Dharmendra, Rajendra Kumar, Shashi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna.[12][13][14]

1987-1999: Later career

After Kranti in 1981, Kumar's career began to decline, when the films he did with him in lead role like Kalyug Aur Ramayan (1987), Santosh and Clerk (both in 1989) flopped at the box office. He quit acting after his appearance in the 1995 film Maidan-E-Jung. He directed his son, Kunal Goswami, in the 1999 film Jai Hind which had a patriotic theme. The film was a box office failure and the last film Kumar worked on.[15]

He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 for a career spanning over 40 years.[16]

His trademark hand-covering-the-face was very popular and continues to be the butt of jokes of latter day stand-up comedians. In 2007, the Shah Rukh Khan film Om Shanti Om featured the lead character pretending to be Manoj Kumar so as to sneak into a movie premiere, by holding his hand over his face. Kumar filed a lawsuit, which was settled out of court.[17]

Politics

Manoj with politician Manish Tewari at 44th International Film Festival of India in 2013

Like many other Bollywood stars, Kumar decided to enter politics following his retirement. Before the 2004 general election in India, he officially joined Bharatiya Janta Party.[18]

Filmography

Actor

YearFilmRoleNotes
1957FashionN/A
1958SaharaShyam
PanchayatGopal
1959ChandGokul
1960HoneymoonKishore
1961Kaanch Ki GudiyaRaju
Piya Milan Ki AasMaji
Suhag SindoorRatan
Reshmi RumalShyam
1962Hariyali Aur RastaShankar
Dr. VidyaRatan Chowdhury
ShaadiRaja
Banarsi ThugShyam
Maa BetaKeshav
Naqli NawabYusuf
1963Apna Bana Ke DekhoN/A
Ghar Basake DekhoKumar
GrahastiMohan
1964Apne Huye ParayeDr. Shankar
Woh Kaun Thi?Dr. Anand
Phoolon Ki SejNirmal Verma
1965ShaheedBhagat Singh
BedaagRajesh
Himalay Ki God MeinDr. Sunil Mehra
GumnaamC.I.D. Inspector Anand
Poonam Ki RaatPrakash Gupta
1966PicnicVinod
Do BadanVikas
Sawan Ki GhataGopal
1967Patthar Ke SanamRajesh
AnitaNeeraj
UpkarBharat
1968Neel KamalRam
AadmiDr. Shekhar
1969SajanAshok Saxena
1970Purab Aur PaschimBharat
YaadgaarBhanu
PehchanGangaram "Ganga" Ramkishan
Mera Naam JokerDavid Francis
1971BalidaanRaja
1972ShorShankar
Be-ImaanMohan
1974Roti Kapda Aur MakaanBharat
1975SanyasiRam Rai
1976Dus NumbriArjun
1977Shirdi Ke Sai BabaScientist
AmaanatDeepak
1979Jat PunjabiJat Punjabi
1981KrantiBharat
1983Mujhe Insaaf ChahiyeHimselfGuest appearance
1987Kalyug Aur RamayanPawan Putra Shri Hanuman
1989SantoshSantosh Singh
ClerkBharat
1991DeshwasiSangram Singh
1995Maidan-E-JungMaster Dinanath

Director

Accolades and honours

President of India Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Manoj Kumar at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2016

Civilian Award


Year Honor Result Ref.
1992 Padma Shri Honored [19]

National Film Awards

Year Category Work Result Ref.
1968 Second Best Feature Film Upkaar Won [20]
2016 Dadasaheb Phalke Award Honored [21]

State Honours

Year Category Work Result Ref.
2008 Kishore Kumar Award Honored [22]
2010 Raj Kapoor Award Honored [23]

Filmfare Awards

Year Category Work Result Ref.
1968 Best Film Upkaar Won [24]
Best Director Won
Best Story Won
Best Dialogue Won
Best Actor Nominated
1969 Best Supporting Actor Aadmi Nominated
1972 Best Actor Be-Imaan Won
Best Director Shor Nominated [25]
Best Story Nominated
Best Editing Won
1975 Best Film Roti Kapda Aur Makaan Nominated [26]
Best Director Won
Best Story Nominated
Best Actor Nominated
1976 Sanyasi Nominated [27]
1999 Lifetime Achievement Award Honored [28]

BFJA Awards

Year Category Work Result Ref.
1968 Best Dialogue Upkaar Won [29]

Other awards

Other honours

  • 2008 – To honour Manoj Kumar, the Government of Madhya Pradesh decided to institute a Rs 100,000 award in his name. The state government also recommended Kumar's name for Bharat Ratna to the central government.[39]
  • 2011 – In recognition of the devotion of Manoj Kumar towards Shri Sai Baba, the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi renamed "Pimpalwadi Road" in Shirdi as "Manojkumar Goswami Road".[40]

Reception and legacy

Kumar is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema.[41] He is noted for his patriotic films.[42][43] One of the most successful actor of 1960s and 1970s, Kumar appeared in Box Office India's "Top Actors" list eight times, (1967-1969, 1972-1976).[44] In 2022, he was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.[45]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Bharat is an alternative name for India.

Citations

  1. ↑ "10 interesting facts about Manoj Kumar - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. 1 2 3 Verghis, Shana Maria (8 May 2011). "'I left behind a can of marbles in Abbotabad after Partition'". Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Vijayakar, Rajiv. "A patriot at heart". Deccan Herald. DHNS. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "How Manoj Kumar got his name and whom does he thank for that?" (video). youtube.com (in Hindi).
  5. ↑ "Worth Their Weight in Gold! - Box Office India : India's premier film trade magazine". Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "Boxofficeindia.com". 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Filmfare Awards Winners from 1953 to 2020".
  8. ↑ Filmfare Awards (1954 - 2021) List (scroll down to year 1975) Filmfare Awards website, Retrieved 25 January 2022
  9. ↑ "Box Office 1975". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  10. ↑ BoxOffice India.com Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Rewind - Forty Years Of Historic Blockbuster KRANTI, Box Office India, 13 February 2021
  12. ↑ When Manoj Kumar revealed why Raj Kapoor kept 'his head on my lap and started crying', Hindustan Times, 7 September 2022
  13. ↑ "Rajendra Kumar, the man who churned out hits", The Tribune, 27 March 2020
  14. ↑ This week, that year: Shashi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar and a story of friendship, Mumbai Mirror, 20 March 2020
  15. ↑ "Jai Hind - Movie - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com.
  16. ↑ Bhatt, SC; Bhargava, Gopal K. (2006). Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories (in 36 Volumes). Vol. 16. Kalpaz Publications. p. 685. ISBN 81-7835-372-5.
  17. ↑ "The super censors". The Times of India. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "Manoj Kumar, Apra Mehta join BJP". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  19. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ "15th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  21. ↑ Kumar, Anuj (10 March 2016). "Know your Bharat". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Manoj Kumar to be honoured on Kishore Kumar's birth anniv". Zee News. 24 July 2008. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  23. ↑ "Manoj Kumar gets Raj Kapoor Award". India Today. indiatoday.intoday.in. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  24. ↑ "Filmfare Awards Winners from 1953 to 2020".
  25. ↑ Reuben, Bunny (2005). ...and Pran: A Biography. HarperCollins and Living Media. pp. 265–267. ISBN 978-81-72234-66-9.
  26. ↑ "Filmfare Awards Winners from 1953 to 2020".
  27. ↑ "Lakshmi, Times Exclusive Photo, 1975 Filmfare Awards: ..." www.timescontent.com.
  28. ↑ Bhatt, SC; Bhargava, Gopal K. (2006). Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories (in 36 Volumes). Vol. 16. Kalpaz Publications. p. 685. ISBN 81-7835-372-5.
  29. ↑ "31st Annual BFJA Awards. Awards For The Year 1967". Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.. bfjaawards.com (1968)
  30. ↑ "NRI Award, Sardar Patel Award, Sardar Ratna, Pravasi Bharatiya Award, International Award". sardarpatelaward.org. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  31. ↑ "Manoj Kumar & Oliver Stone honoured at 12th Mumbai Film Festival". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). BollywoodHungama.com (29 October 2010). Retrieved on 1 January 2014.
  32. ↑ Manoj Kumar to be felicitated at the Apsara Awards Archived 28 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. BollywoodHungama.com (25 January 2012). Retrieved on 1 January 2014.
  33. ↑ Manoj Kumar to be felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award | Bollywood News | Hindi Movies News | News Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. BollywoodHungama.com (13 March 2012). Retrieved on 1 January 2014.
  34. ↑ Manoj Kumar To Be Honoured With The Bharat Gaurav Award – Bollywood News Archived 30 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Movie Talkies (6 June 2012). Retrieved on 1 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Manoj Kumar honoured with Lifetime Achievement award". indiatoday.intoday.in. 2 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  36. ↑ "Jagran Film Festival 2013: Manoj Kumar Receives Lifetime Achievement Award [Winners List+PHOTOS]". ibtimes.co.in. 30 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  37. ↑ "Powerbrands BFJA". Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  38. ↑ "T.N. Govt. Announces Kalaimamani awards for 2019, 2020". The Hindu. 19 February 2021.
  39. ↑ Madhya Pradesh institutes award in Manoj Kumar's name | Bollywood.com : Entertainment news, movie, music and fashion reviews Archived 2 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Bollywood.com (5 August 2008). Retrieved on 1 January 2014.
  40. ↑ mobile. Thenews24x7.com.
  41. ↑ "Iconic heroes of Bollywood". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  42. ↑ "Republic Day 2019: These Bollywood films will reignite the patriotic fervour in you". Zee News. 26 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  43. ↑ "Happy Republic Day: Swades, Rang De Basanti, Uri – 12 iconic Bollywood films that commemorate the spirit of being Indian". Daily News and Analysis. 26 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  44. ↑ "Top Actors". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  45. ↑ "75 Bollywood Actors Who Conquered Hearts Of The Millions". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
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