BOLLYWOOD legend Manoj Kumar rose up from bumble beginnings to become a popular actor and massively successful filmmaker. Born Harikishan Giri Goswami, he starred in a number of classics that are regarded as some of the finest films ever made in India. He was awarded Indian cinema’s highest honour the Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2015. This week he will be celebrating his 81st birthday on July 24 and will no doubt receive warm wishes from around the world. Eastern Eye decided to celebrate by listing 10 of his films we think everyone should revisit… Woh Kaun Thi (1964): The great ghost story is most famous for perhaps Bollywood’s finest ever love song Lag Ja Gale. The spooky tale sees Manoj play a man who starts to fall for a woman who might be a ghost. The beautifully-shot blockbuster also includes a stand-out performance from leading lady Sadhana. Himalay Ki God Mein (1965): The interesting drama won the Filmfare Award for Best Film. The actor plays a kind-hearted doctor who returns to a remote village to help the poor and in the process he unexpectedly finds love. Apart from being an interesting structured story, there was also a great message about making a positive difference. Shaheed (1965): The National Award-winning film was a game-changer for Indian cinema and for the actor himself. The true-life tale sees Manoj play legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, who makes the ultimate sacrifice for his country. The film included the iconic song Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, which was written by legendary poet and freedom fighter Bismil Azimabadi. Upkar (1967): The multi-talented star wrote, directed and played the lead role in the award-winning film that was the biggest hit of that year and major turning point for him. He plays Bharat, a villager who makes sacrifices to educate his…
You do not have access to this content. You need to create an account.
