Cast
What it is about
In colonial India in 1911, the Sandhu family is shaken when Ajit Singh, the uncle of young Bhagat, is arrested for stirring up opposition to the British. The film follows Bhagat Singh's path into the independence movement, from his youth to his involvement in the struggle against British rule in Lahore and Delhi.
How it was made
Manoj Kumar, who starred in the film and was among its driving forces, spent about four years researching his role. He read newspapers and old books from the period, worked through libraries, and met Bhagat Singh's lawyer and other freedom fighters. Shooting began in 1963 and the film came out in 1965. Prem Dhawan's score includes Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna, with lyrics by Bismil Azimabadi, set in the raga Darbari Kanada.
Reception and legacy
Shaheed was a box-office success, and Box Office India gave it a verdict of hit, placing it among the year's most profitable releases. At the 13th National Film Awards it won Best Feature Film in Hindi, the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, and Best Screenplay. It was the first of Manoj Kumar's patriotic films, followed by Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Kranti (1981).
Stills
Trivia
Four years of preparation
In 2017 Manoj Kumar explained that he needed four years of research to play Bhagat Singh. During that time he read newspapers, period books and accounts from freedom fighters.
A song by Bismil
Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna has lyrics by the freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil, though the credit appears under the name Bismil Azimabadi. Its melody is built on the raga Darbari Kanada.
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.