Popularly known as Bharat Kumar in his films, making patriotic films with national pride Manoj Kumar breathed his last at a Mumbai hospital. RIP
SUNIL NEGI
The veteran film star, producer and director of his own home production extremely popular for patriotic films and films on socio political issues with national pride in mind which hit box offices becoming super duper hits like Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Shor , Roti, Kapadaa aur Makaan, Shaheed, Kranti, Shirdi ke Sai Baba etc Padmashree Manoj Kumar popularly known as Bharat Kumar breathed his last due to heart related complications at Kokila Ben Hospital in Mumbai at the age of 87 yesterday midnight/ early morning at 3.30 AM. His passing away has left millions of his fans shocked including the Bollywood industry fraternity.
The prime minister Narendra Modi expressed his deepest condolences on the sad demise of a superstar who had millions of following and loved by one and all for his patriotic films . Prime minister Narendra Modi while paying his tributes to this great actor wrote on X : Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji. He was an icon of Indian cinema, who was particularly remembered for his patriotic zeal, which was also reflected in his films. Manoj Ji’s works ignited a spirit of national pride and will continue to inspire generations. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti said PM Modi on X.
The union Defence minister Rajnath Singh was pained to learn about the sad demise of a popular super actor known as Bharat Kumar for making and acting in lead role of a Hero in patriotic films. He wrote on X while paying his heartfelt tributes : Shri Manoj Kumar ji was a versatile actor, who would always be remembered for making films full of patriotism. Popularly known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ his unforgettable performances in films like ‘Upkaar’, ‘Purab and Paschim’ have enriched our culture and have endeared him to people across generations. His cinematic legacy will live on through his works. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.
The Congress president and MP Rajya Sabha , leader of opposition in the upper house Malliarjun Kharge joined in extending his condolences and paying tributes to Padma Shree Manoj Kumar . He wrote on X : In a career spanning four decades, prolific actor and director, Manoj Kumar ji captivated the audiences with his films made on patriotism and national pride.
The Padma Shri recipient, was fondly known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ and his films like ‘Shaheed’ and ‘Upkaar’ earned the attention of the then PM, Lal Bahadur Shastri ji. We extend our deepest condolences on his passing away. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and millions of fans.
The producer of controversial film Kashmir Files highlighting the extremely plight and brutal killings of Kashmir Pandits in terrorist infested Kashmir by Hardened Pak Sponsored terrorists Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri while extending his heartfelt tributes and deepest condolences on the occassion of sad demise of the veteran actor wrote on X : India’s first truly original and committed Indic filmmaker, Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Shri Manoj Kumar ji, left us today. A proud nationalist. A staunch Hindu at heart. A visionary director who gave Indian cinema a new grammar — of song picturisation of meaningful lyrics, of cinema that didn’t just entertain but remembered to belong. He made patriotism cinematic, without noise. He made nationalism poetic, without apology. In a time of borrowed voices and secondhand aesthetics, he dared to be rooted. Patriots and artists like him never die. They simply transcend — into memory, into celluloid, into the nation’s heartbeat. अन्य कलाकार मृत्यु को प्राप्त होते हैं, पर देशभक्त कलाकार कालजयी होते हैं।
Manoj Kumar aka Bharat Kumar , prestigious Padmashree and Dada Saheb Phalke award recipient debuted in Bollywood in 1957 with the film Fashion getting break thereafter in Kanch Ki Gudiya in1961, where he acted with Sayeeda Khan.
Loved and adored by millions of his fans globally Manoj Kumar’s thriller, Gumnaam (1965), was one of the highest-grossing movies of that year, collecting Rs 2.6 crores. In the same year, Mr Kumar starred in Shaheed, which explored the life of the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
His roles in patriotic films like Upkaar (1967), Purab Aur Pachhim (1970) and Kranti (1981) got him the nickname ‘Bharat Kumar’. He also directed and acted in Shor (1972).
Mr Kumar won the Best Director award at the Filmfare Awards in 1975 for his movie Roti Kapada Aur Makaan.
Mr Kumar was conferred the title of Padma Shri in 1992, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.
Before the 2004 general elections, Mr Kumar officially joined the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)
It is indeed an end of an era of magnificent true patriotic films which inculcate in us and our future generations a feeling of national pride and patriotism to shun the western colonial culture and imitate our national pride, cultural heritage and the true invaluable ethics of Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Nehru, Gandhi, Sardar Patel and revolutionaries who freed us from the tortuous shackles of the British imperialists. We are all indebted to Manoj Kumar, a legendary actor. My heartfelt tributes said Sunil Negi, editor UKnationnews. Jai Hind.
I fondly remember the craze for Bollywood stars in Delhi especially super stars and filmmakers like Manoj Kumar etc in 1974. I was in Chanakya cinema as one of the spectator amongst thousands of uncontrollable crowd during the premier of Roti Kapadaa aur Makaan in which the then defence minister Babu Jagjiwan Ram and who’s who of political circle including Shashi Kapoor , Zeenat Aman etc were present. Just to have a glimpse of Manoj Kumar and Shashi Kapoor hundreds of thousands of crazy fans were standing on roof tops of Yashwant place market , the nearby offices and Chanakya Cinema’s entire floor and ground space jam-packed with police finding it extremely difficult to manage the crowd. Such was the fame of Manoj Kumar and other stars during seventies.
