''Upkar'' () is a 1967 Indian

Hindi film Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and " Hollywood". The industry, producing films in t ...

directed by

Manoj Kumar Manoj Kumar (born Harikrishan Giri Goswami; 24 July 1937 – 4 April 2025) was an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most successful actors in t ...

. Set in the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, ''Upkar'' celebrates village life and the contributions of farmers and soldiers to India. The film was inspired by Indian prime minister,

Lal Bahadur Shastri Lal Bahadur Shastri (; born Lal Bahadur Srivastava; 2 October 190411 January 1966) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He previously served as Minister ...

, who suggested that Kumar make a film based on his motto for India, " Jai Jawan Jai Kisan''"'' (). It stars Kumar,

Prem Chopra Prem Chopra (born 23 September 1935) is an Indian actor in Hindi films. He has acted in 380 films over a span of over 60 years. Life and education Chopra, the third of six children of Ranveerlal and Rooprani Chopra, a Punjabi Hindu family, was ...

Asha Parekh Asha Parekh (born 2 October 1942) is an Indian actress, film director, and producer who worked in Hindi films. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses of Hindi cinema, Parekh has worked in more than 85 films, in a career spanning over four d ...

, Kamini Kaushal, Pran, and

Madan Puri Madan Puri (30 September 1915 – 13 January 1985) was an Indian actor of Hindi and Punjabi films. His brothers were actors Chaman Puri and Amrish Puri. As a character actor mainly in negative roles (villain), he acted in about 430 films in ...

. It was Kumar's directorial debut film. The film held the top spot at the box office in 1967 and was the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. ''Upkar'' won seven

Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...

including Best Film. It also won the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film. The film was remade in Telugu as ''Padipantalu'' in 1976.

Plot

A village man from Atali village ( Ballabgarh,

Haryana Haryana () is a States and union territories of India, state located in the northern part of India. It was carved out after the linguistic reorganisation of Punjab, India, Punjab on 1 November 1966. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with les ...

), Bharat, sacrifices everything for his brother's education. The brother, Puran, goes to study in the city and becomes attracted to the high-society lifestyle. When Puran returns to the village, he is a selfish man and wants to sell his share of the family's property. Bharat is unwilling to divide the property and transfers the disputed land to Puran's son. When the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 begins, Bharat joins the fight. With the help of his greedy uncle Charandas and some partners, Puran tries to profit by hoarding and selling grains on the black market. Puran eventually discovers Charandas' plan to separate the two brothers. Ridden with guilt and shame, Puran surrenders to the police. Bharat fights bravely in the war but is captured by the enemy. He escapes but is badly injured and loses both hands. When Bharat returns home as a war hero, Puran apologizes to him. Reunited in the village, the two brothers farm the family fields together.

Cast

– Bharat *

Mahesh Kothare Mahesh Ambar Kothare (Marathi pronunciation: əɦeːʃ koʈʰaːɾe born 28 September 1953) is an Indian film actor, director and producer of Marathi and Hindi films. He is regarded as a revolutionary figure in the Marathi film industry, know ...

– Younger Bharat *

– Dr. Kavita *

– Puran "Kumar" * Kanhaiyalal –

Lala ''LaLa'' is a monthly Japanese manga magazine published by Hakusensha on the 24th of each month. The magazine's bonus contents are usually calendars for New Year issues, drama CDs, and so on. In a 2006 survey conducted by Oricon, Japanese girls ...

Dhaniram * Pran –

Malang Malang (; , ), historically known as Tumapel, is an inland List of regencies and cities of Indonesia, city in the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of East Java. It has a history dating back to the age of the Singhasari, Singhasari K ...

Chacha *

David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...

–

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

'' saab'' * Kamini Kaushal – Radha * Asit Sen – Lakhpati *

Tun Tun Uma Devi Khatri
Press Release, Madan Puri Madan Puri (30 September 1915 – 13 January 1985) was an Indian actor of Hindi and Punjabi films. His brothers were actors Chaman Puri and Amrish Puri. As a character actor mainly in negative roles (villain), he acted in about 430 films in ...

– Charan Das * Manmohan – Kavita's Brother *

Aruna Irani Aruna Irani (born 18 August 1946) is an Indian actress, who has acted in over 500 films throughout Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, playing mostly supporting and character roles. She received two Filmfare Awards for Best Support ...

– Kamli * Manmohan Krishan – Bisna * Sunder – Sunder *

Gulshan Bawra Gulshan Kumar Mehta, popularly known by his pen name Gulshan Bawra (literally: "Gulshan The Mad") (12 April 1937 – 7 August 2009), was an Indian songwriter and actor in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning 42 years, he has to his credit about 2 ...

– Som * Mohan Choti – Mangal * Laxmi Chhaya – Guest dancer in "Gulabi Raat Gulabi"

Production

According to an interview with Manoj Kumar,

Rajesh Khanna Rajesh Khanna (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, h ...

was originally signed in a supporting role for the film. However, he won the All India Talent Contest and had to withdraw from the film.

replaced him. Some portions of ''Upkar'' were filmed at Rajkamal Kalamandir, Kamal Studio, Guru Dutt Films, and

Mehboob Studio Mehboob Studio is an Indian film studio and recording studio in Bandra (W), Mumbai, founded in 1954 by director and producer Mehboob Khan, who previously owned Mehboob Productions (founded 1942), and is most known for films such as '' Mother I ...

. However, the

principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

took place in the village of Nangal Thakran in

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

& Atali Village (Ballabgarh, Haryana). The film unit borrowed

bullock cart A bullock cart or ox cart (sometimes called a Carriage#Bullock carriage, bullock carriage when carrying people in particular) is a two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen. It is a means of transportation used since ancient times in m ...

s and plows from the Garhkhera villagers (near Atali Village) for filming. Bharat's house and field were actual locations in Nangal Thakran & Atali Village, including the field where the " Mere Desh Ki Dharti" song was filmed. The cast and production stayed in Delhi while filming in Nangal Thakran, traveling to the village each morning. However, they stayed in Nangal Thakran during the filming of night sequences.

Soundtrack

The film was scored by Kalyanji Anandji. Qamar Jalalabadi, Indeevar,

, and Prem Dhawan wrote the lyrics for the songs. The patriotic song " Mere Desh Ki Dharti" () has become a staple of

Republic Day Republic Day is the name of a holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they became republics. List January 1 January in Slovak Republic The day of creation of Slovak republic. A national holiday since 1993. Officially calle ...

and

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...

celebrations in India.

Awards and nominations

15th Filmfare Awards

Won

* Best Film – V. I. P. Films * Best Director –

* Best Supporting Actor – Pran * Best Lyricist –

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 Mahendra Kapoor (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) was an Indian playback singer. In a long career spanning decades, his repertoire included popular songs such as ''Chalo ekbaar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono'' ( Gumrah) and ''Neele Gagan ...

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 –

for the song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" * BFJA Award for Best Dialogue (Hindi) – Manoj Kumar

References

External links

* {{FilmfareAwardBestFilm 1954–1970 1960s Hindi-language films 1967 directorial debut films 1967 drama films 1967 films Films about brothers Films about businesspeople Films about farmers Films about inheritances Films about landlords Films based on Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts Films directed by Manoj Kumar Films scored by Kalyanji Anandji Films set in 1965 Films set in Haryana Films set in Jammu and Kashmir Films set on farms Films shot in Delhi Films shot in Haryana Films shot in Mumbai Hindi films remade in other languages Hindi-language films based on actual events Indian Army in films Indian war drama films Kashmir conflict in films Memorials to Lal Bahadur Shastri Military of Pakistan in films Second Best Feature Film National Film Award winners Films about poverty in India