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Manoj Kumar is happy that after he made a film on Shirdi Ke Sai Baba, the road leading to Sai Baba temple was named Manoj Kumar Goswami Road. “Now everyone who goes to have the darshan of Saibaba will have to walk on the road named after me. I am happy.” He has said recently.
But Manoj Kumar’s contribution to Hindi films is much more.
Born in Abbotabad, North West Frontier Province, Hari Krishna Goswami became Manoj Kumar when he came to Bombay in the early fifties to join the film industry. After some unimpressive performances in non-descript films ('Fashion', 'Panchayat', 'Chand') he was noticed in 'Kanch Ki Gudiya' (1961) and 'Hariyali Aur Raasta' (1962). 'Woh Kaun Thi' (1964), 'Shaheed' (1965),'Gumnaam' (1965) and 'Do Badan' (1966) further added to his success as an actor. But Kumar came into his element with 'Shaheed'. He played the revolutionary Bhagat Singh, his childhood hero and took a lot of interest in the direction, script and other aspects of film making.
This interest in Indian history and politics, coupled with a talent for writing and direction bore fruits. 'Upkaar' was the first of his socially and politically relevant films he made, followed by 'Purab Aur Paschim', 'Shor',and 'Roti Kapda Aur Makan' catapulting him higher than any of his contemporaries. As an actor-director, Kumar was offered Rs 10 millions for an outside film, an astronomical amount in the early seventies.He declined such offers and he climaxed with ' Kranti', a home production which he directed, where he co-starred with Dilip Kumar, the actor Manoj had always admired and imitated.
His style of taking the 'trolley shot', is even today described as a Manoj Kumar shot. However, his later films ('Kalyug Aur Ramayana' and 'Clerk') have bombed. He has recently completed 'Jai Hind', in which his son Kunal Goswami plays the lead. Manoj Kumar has just received the Filmfare lifetime achievement award.
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