Manoj Kumar

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A tormented childhood Manoj Kumar was a victim of partition. From Lahore he and his family had to escape to Delhi and take shelter in a refugee camp. Recalling the gory days Manoj Kumar says, “I vividly remember the gruesome days. My mother was sick and my two month brother Kuku was burning with intense fever. Father had gone out to search job to feed family. I rushed my mother and brother to civil hospital but the doctors and nurses run into underground.” He informed, “Actually during the 1947 Indo-Pak partition the movement the siren rung people run helter shelter. Same happened at the hospital.” “Due to doctors running away my brother died. I got angry and in fist of fury I thrashed the doctors. When my father came to know he cajoled me and took a promise from me never to indulge in violence. I have obeyed his advice all my life,” narrates Manoj Kumar From Harikrishna Goswami to Manoj Kumar During his early days in Delhi, Manoj Kumar saw the film Jugnu staring Dilip Kumar. He was bowled over by Dilip Kumar’s performance. Next he saw Dilip Kumar’s other film Shaheed and then Shabnam. The spell of Dilip Kumar soon began to intoxicate young Harikrishna Goswami so much that he decided to become an actor. Inspired by Dilip Kumar’s name Manoj in the film Shabnam, Harikrishna Goswami , rechristened himself as Manoj Kumar.

Manoj Kumar and Shashi Goswami made a good couple Manoj Kumar met Shashi Goswami, who hailed from Jodhkan, Sirsa district, Haryana, in his teens. During his college days he fell in love with Shashi and the two dated for many years and tied the nuptial knot.

Manoj Kumar beings his journey in Bollywood as an Extra! After completing his graduation from Delhi’s Hindu College, University, Manoj Kumar came to Mumbai to try his luck in films. However unlike other film stars who run away to Mumbai, Manoj Kumar took his parents’ permission. In Mumbai he had his uncle and aunty who gave him shelter. But recalling his days in Mumbai Manoj Kumar said. “I had sometime even slept on railway platform and also received thrashing from policemen because when I would be late the doors of my uncle’s house would be closed.” After a hard struggle Manoj Kumar finally got work in cinema as an extra. His first film was Fashion in which he was given an extra’s role of a 90 year old beggar, when he was just 19 year old!!! Few more movies followed like Meena Kumari’s Sahara, Balraj Sahni’s Chand etc. Manoj Kumar begs his first hero film Manoj Kumar was first introduced as hero by eminent filmmaker H.S. Rawail, who made hit films like Mere Mehboob (1963), Sunghursh (1968), Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971) and Laila Majnu (1976). What is interesting is that H.S.Rawail after a hat trick of hit films like Pocket Maar and Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja with Dev Anand and Shararat with Raaj Kumar and Meena Kumari decided to make a surprise low budget film with new comers. He happened to meet Manoj Kumar and was impressed by his dashing personality. He introduced Manoj Kumar as hero in his film Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961) opposite Sayeeda Khan. The film was a flop but it helped Manoj Kumar acquire few films like Reshmi Rumal, Dr. Vidya, Shaadi etc. Manoj Kumar gets his first Hit film With a string of flops Manoj Kumar was in dilemma and was labeled a jinx actor. It was a difficult phase for Manoj Kumar when fortunately movie legend Vijay Bhatt decided to take a gamble on him. It may be remembered here that Vijay Bhat was known for casting upcoming heroes but his trump card used to be popular music and all his films were a successful thanks to super hit music. Like Bharat Bhushan in Baiju Bawara(music by Nushad); Rajendra Kumar (Music Vasant Desai) hence in his film Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962) Bhatt signed Manoj Kumar as hero but the film had music by Shankar Jaikishan. Like always the movie had all hit songs like Teri Yaad Dil Se Bhulaane Chala Hoon...; Bol Meri Taqdeer Mein Kya Hai....Allah Jaane Kya Hoga Aage... Yeh Hariyali Aur Yeh Rasta…. The movie was a huge hit and it made Manoj Kumar a star! What followed were a chain of hit films like Woh Kaun Thi?, Himalay Ki God Mein, Gumnaam, Do Badan, Sawan Ki Ghata, Sajan, Patthar Ke Sanam etc. How seeds of patriotism were sowed in Manoj Kumar When Manoj Kumar was young about 15 years old his uncle died. There was mourning and sorrow in the house but the next morning his father asked young Manoj to wear new cloths and come along with him. He was confused and could not understand where his father was taking him. Like an obedient son he went along but within his heart there was grief of his late uncle. They reached their destination. It was the historic Red Fort. Recalling the incident Manoj Kumar says, “Though every Independence day is important but it was the First Independence Day of India and I saw Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, raised the flag of independent India in Delhi. My father told me, son, we can control our emotions but we must be a part of the joy of our country’s independence day. That day I learned the true value of patriotism and preserved it all my life.” Manoj Kumar’s inclination to patriotism and clean cinema The first patriotic film of Manoj Kumar as an actor was Shaheed (1965). It based on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's life and Manoj Kumar suited the character of Bhagat Singh to a perfect T. The movie won the National Film Awards as Best Hindi film and the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and the award for Best Screenplay for B. K. Dutt and Din Dayal Sharma. The movie was applauded by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri who encouraged him to make Upkar. The success of Upkar(1967) led to many patriotic films like Purab Aur Paschim (1968), Kranti etc. Manoj Kumar also experimented with social theme as Shor (1972) and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974). Manoj Kumar also acted in movies that were message oriented and attacked the wrong doings like Yaadgaar (attacked Corrupt politician), Pehchan (attacked Modern culture), Be-Imaan (attacked Smugglers), Sanyasi (attacked fraud religious Gurus), Dus Numberi (Attacked the notorious criminals) etc.