Upkar

''Upkar'' () is a 1967 Indian Hindi film directed by Manoj Kumar. The film held the top spot at the box office in 1967. It was Manoj Kumar's directorial debut film. Then India's prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri suggested Kumar to make a film based on our farmers and soldiers. It was the highest grossing movie of the year. It is considered as a classic film.

The film is based on the backdrop of war of 1965, it praised the village life, farmer's and soldier's contribution for the nation. It was praised for story, photography, songs, lyrics, acting.

The movie also stars Asha Parekh as a doctor promoting family planning, Kamini Kaushal and Pran in his first positive character role. Madan Puri played the main villain with ease, full ability, and command. The film won several major awards.

Plot

Manoj Kumar plays a village man 'Bharat', who sacrifices everything to get his brother educated. His brother, Puran, goes to study in city and gets attracted to the high society life style. He comes back to the village but is a selfish man wanting his share of the property. Bharat is unwilling to divide the property and transfers the full property land to Puran's son in order to prevent Puran from selling the land.

But, when the war of 1965 between India and Pakistan breaks out, Bharat goes to the war front; while his selfish brother, with the help of his greedy uncle Charandas and some partners, tries to gain profit by hoarding and black marketing grains in the market. But later Puran discovers Charandas' plan to separate Puran from Bharat and ridden with guilt and shame, surrenders to the police.

Bharat fights bravely in the war but is captured by enemy. He later manages to escape but is badly injured and loses both his hands. In the end, Bharat returns as a war hero, his brother apologises and unites & both brothers again start to live in the village, working hard in the fields as farmers.

Cast

* Manoj Kumar - Bharat
° Mahesh Kothare - Younger Bharat
* Asha Parekh - Dr. Kavita
* Prem Chopra - Puran ‘Kumar’
* Kanhaiyalal - Lala Dhaniram
* Pran - Malang Chacha
* David - Major ''saab''
* Kamini Kaushal - Radha
* Asit Sen - Lakhpati
* Tun Tun - Charan Das
* Manmohan - Kavita's Brother
* Aruna Irani - Kamli
* Manmohan Krishan - Bisna
* Sunder - Sunder
* Gulshan Bawra - Som
* Mohan Choti - Mangal
* Laxmi Chhaya - Guest dancer in "Gulabi Raat Gulabi"

Background

Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri praised his earlier film '' Shaheed'' and enthused Manoj Kumar to make a film on the Jai Jawan Jai Kisan slogan. The slogan shaped into Manoj Kumar's official debut as a director for ''Upkar'', where he believably played both a ''jawan'' () and a ''kisan''. A huge hit, Upkar made Manoj an authority on screen patriotism.

According to movie expert Rajesh Subramanian, Rajesh Khanna was originally signed for the film, but before the shooting kicked off he won the ''All India Talent Contest'' organised by ''United Producers'' and ''Filmfare'' and thus had to withdraw. Prem Chopra replaced him.

Most parts of the movie were shot in Atali village near Ballabgarh (Haryana) and Ghevra Village near Bawana, Delhi. The Shiv Temple shown in the film is located in Ghevra, including the songs "''Kasme Vaade''" and " Mere Desh Ki Dharti", then Manoj Kumar purchased a Bagh (property) in that area named Vishal Bagh on Main Bawana Road at Narela, Delhi NCT.

Production

* Origin - India's second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri suggested Manoj Kumar to make a movie based on his slogan ''Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.'' After India defeated Pakistan in 1965 war. Shastri wanted to raise moral of the country.
* Principal photography-

The principal photography happened at ''Nangal Thakran'' village of Delhi state. It is present on North East side of New Delhi. The film unit took bullock carts, ploughs from the villagers for filming, house of the village are used for Bharat (Manoj Kumar) house. The cast and production used to arrive at morning for filming and used to return to Delhi at night. They lived in the village during filming of night sequences. The field of one of the resident of village is used as of Bharat, where "''Mere Desh Ki Dharti'' " song was filmed. Some portions are filmed in Rajkamal Kala-mandir studio, Kamal studio, Gurudatt studio and Mehaboob studio.

Soundtrack

The film's music was given by Kalyanji Anandji. Lyrics for ''Upkar'' were penned by Qamar Jalalabadi, Indeevar, Gulshan Bawra, and Sitaram Dhawan. The song, " Mere Desh Ki Dharti Sona Ugle Ugle Heere Moti, Mere Desh Ki Dharti", sung by Mahendra Kapoor was a chartbuster.

Reception

The songs of Upkar became hit. Still the song "''Mere Desh Ki Dharti''" () is played during Republic day and Independence day of India.

Many years later, Manoj Kumar said that one of the most beautiful screen images that stuck in his mind was a "half-lit Asha Parekh" in this film.

Awards and nominations

; 15th Filmfare Awards:

Won

* Best Film – V. I. P. Films
* Best Director – Manoj Kumar
* Best Supporting Actor – Pran
* Best Lyricist – Gulshan Bawra for "Mere Desh Ki Dharti"
* Best Story – Manoj Kumar
* Best Dialogue – Manoj Kumar
* Best Editing – B. S. Glaad

Nominated

* Best Actor – Manoj Kumar
* Best Music Director – Kalyanji–Anandji
* Best Male Playback Singer – Mahendra Kapoor for "Mere Desh Ki Dharti"

Other Awards

*National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film--Manoj Kumar
*National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer --Mahendra Kapoor for the song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti"
*BFJA Award for Best Dialogue (Hindi)--Manoj Kumar

References

External links

*

Upkar Film review and synopsis

{{FilmfareAwardBestFilm 1954–1970

1967 films
1960s Hindi-language films
1967 drama films
Films scored by Kalyanji Anandji
Second Best Feature Film National Film Award winners
1967 directorial debut films
Films directed by Manoj Kumar
Memorials to Lal Bahadur Shastri