Shaheed(1965) :: A tribute to Martyr Bhagat Singh on Baishakhi day!
Today is Baishakhi and 88 years before on 13.04.1919, General Dyer ordered british soldiers to open fire on an unarmed gathering of Men, women and children in the Jalliyanwalla Bagh in Amritsar. Jalliyanwala Bagh massacre or Amritsar Massacre is well picturised in Sir Richard Attenborough?s classic film Gandhi (1982). This massacre affected the psyche of the child Bhagat Singh, 12 years old then.
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Shaheed, film produced by Keval P Kashyap and directed by S.Ram Sharma, turned the life of actor Manoj Kumar and gave him the image of a patriotic hero. Though coloured films had been started in hindi cinema for some years but due to availability of less budget for this film and Shaheed was made in black and white. Story belongs to revolutionary Batukeshwar Datt, who was associate of Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad but he was not given capital punishment along with Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev and he died later in 1965.
Actors:
As Bhagat Singh, Manoj Kumar gave his best performance till date. He turned in to Bhagat Singh on screen. If he had only this film in his credit, it was sufficient to inscribe his name in the memory of audience.
Song : O Jogi hum to lut gaye tere pyar mein
Shaheed brings many surprises also. Known for Villainious roles, Prem Chopra plays revolutionary Sukhdev here and simillarly villain of so many films, Man Mohan plays Chandra Shekhar Azad and both the actors give nice performances.
Famous Villain of those years, Pran plays a cameo here. Those who have read about India?s freedom struggle, wonder when Pran enters on screen in the role of Bendit Kehar Singh, who has got capital punishment. But here comes in forefront the brilliant creativeness of screen play writer Din Dayal Sharma and director S. Ram Sharma. Pran comes on screen and steals the scenes for the time he has been on screen. The transformation of his character after seeing Bhagat Singh and his struggle in the jail, is wonderfully combined with the main plot and this additional factor enhances the impact of character of Bhagat Singh. Shaeed changed the life of Pran also as an actor as after the success of Shaheed, Manoj Kumar turned in to director and made Upkar, where he gave Pran, the role of Malang Chacha, and this positive role changed the course of acting for Pran for next 15-16 years till 1981 when he again took cap of villain in Andha Kanoon, the Rajini Kant?s debut hindi film.
Song : Pagdi sambhal O jatta
Madan Puri in the role of Jailor who keeps sympathy with Bhagat Singh and his associates, brings an emotional performance.
Nirupa Roy in the role of Durga Bhabhi and Indrani Mukherjee in the role of Susheela make show their presence in the film but in the ladies its Kamini Kaushal in the role of mother of Bhagat Singh, who does wonders. Shaheed can be said as come back film for Kamini Kaushal and this role of mother of Manoj Kumar ensured that she would play mother of Manoj Kumar in many other films.
Song: Ae Watan ai watan humko teri kasam
Music: Music by Prem Dhawan is a major attraction of the film. He had only sound track of Jagte Raho in his credit before and was known as mainly as lyricist of songs like Chhoro kal kee batein (Hum Hindustani) and when he got opportunity to compose music for Shaheed, he created magic. Afterall he learnt music from Pt Ravi Shankar. He composed immortal songs like
Pagri sambhal O jutta and
Mera Rang de Basanti Chola maye rang de basanti chola.
Dialogues by Din Dayal Sharma maintain the high standard of the film.
Shaheed is a film which does justice to the Bhagat Singh who died at the age of 23 only. Who wrote amazing piece like ?Why I am an atheist? which reveals his intelligence and vision at that younger age. Film keeps synchronisation with the image of Bhagat Singh in the mind of Indian people.
Song: Mera Rang de Basanti Chola
A must watch film to know one of the most important historical figure in the category of Mahatma Gandhi, Pt Nehru, Sardar Patel and Neta Ji Subhash Chandra Bose etc. Its very honest and sensitive film.
Shaheed is miles ahead of the films made by Raj Kumar Santoshi and Guddu Dhanoa in 2002, on the life of Bhagat Singh. Shaheed is more sensitive and explores human relationships better than these blatant versions. After watching Shaheed, even opinion about Rang De Basanti may be affected. Its not only nostalgia effect and effect of “Old is gold” but Shaheed really scores over films of Santoshi, Dhanoa and Rakesh Mehra. The difference between two versions of Devdas of Bimol Roy and Sanjay Bhansali, is quite clear and same happens with old Shaheed and other films based or inspired by life of Bhagat Singh.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
@ RK..” Shaheed is miles ahead of the films made by Raj Kumar Santoshi”
I do not agree bhai. Legend of Bhagat Singh was one helluva movie. Excellent acting, excellent dialogs( piyush Mishra)[ This one takes the cake...i cried for hours after this dialog...When Farida jalal tells Ajay.." you think of the whole country, but you never thought about your mom"..to which Ajay responds " Whenever i thought of the country..it was only you who came to mind mom"], AR. Rehman at his best, Sushant Singh, Akhilendra mishra, Mukesh Tiwari…everyone was fabulous.
Shaheed was indeed a masterpiece…but it was no better than Legend…Yes, RK, Pran takes the cake..what a refreshing performance that was….
This may not be the most popular opinion but I too believe that Shaheed is the best film made on the life and struggles of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. It was not at all meant to be politically driven or exploitative like the many 2002 versions were.
Nor was it a blatant and obvious attempt to prod us and “awaken our sleeping conscious” or preach to us the values for which this man and others like him sacrificied their lives.
It was, in essence, an honest attempt at playing tribute to Bhagat Singh the man, and gave insight into his emotions and motivations. It was less dramatic in its approach and therein lies the reason why so many people even today can relate to both the film and Manoj Kumar’s heartfelt performance on an emotional level.
In the film, the song “Mera Rang De Basanti Chola” does not come across as designed to be an “anthem for the nation” (though that’s ultimately what it became for many) but moreso was used as a cinematic device to express the internal motivating factors driving these men to stand couragously tall in the face of their imminent, inevitable fate.
I understand this is a debatable point since the song was indeed Bhagat Singh’s battlecry, but again I’m attempting to illustrate how a filmmaker’s interpretation can take a peice of history and either honour it through an honest portrayal or use it to manipulate audience perception. Santoshi, Dhanoa and even Ramanand Sagar opted for the latter whereas in “Shaheed” thankfully its the former.
RK – once again I have to commend you for such clarity and depth in your review. This is another review where I find myself not just agreeing but completely relating to your take on the film. You’re enthusiasm is well-placed and contagious my friend, as is your passion for cinema.
OM, I don’t think by saying “Shaheed” is masterpeice RK or myself for that matter intend to take anything away from “The Legend Of Bhagat Singh”. It was a good film, no doubt.
The question here is of the filmmaker’s perspective. The Legend of Bhagat Singh was dramatic and at times preachy, giving the impression it was aimed to send a message to audiences. “Shaheed” doesn’t give that impression, its aim is more to give an insight into Bhagat Singh and his comrades and the context of their struggles during that volitile time in history.
Therefore its not surprising that people find that Santoshi’s film had more impact, it was designed to. Shaheed however provides more understanding.
@ Tony agree with you here.
Yes maybe Raj kumar had the intention of preaching and he was damn spot on with this one. There was gap of decades between Shaheed and Legend. Maybe Shahid was made to bring out the importance of Bhagat Singh and Legend was to preach people that when Bhagat Singh could do it at 23 why not you in the current unrest of political turmoil. Even RDB had that kind of an effect. This was something new which Raj kumar brought and in my books he succeeded. Being simple is awesome, but being grandeur is awesome as well.
I can understand it becomes overtly impossible not to compare Shaheed and Legend…
I was never a big fan of Manoj kumar…for some reason the image of Manoj kumar to me is of him covering his face..hehe…He was good in shaheed though…but, Ajay nailed it…IMO…he was able to ignite a fire in me which Manoj couldn’t
Galti se mistake ho gaya… I had made reference that Ramanand Sagar made a Bhagat Singh film in 2002 as well… I was wrong… the film I was referring to starred Sonu Sood as the martyr, was directed by Sukumar Nair and produced by prominent Punjabi producer Iqbal Dhillon.
Why I thought it was Ramanand Sagar remains a mystery…
haha Tony…Iss baar i pardon..not always :d. I watched the other one by Guddu…damn Sunny paaji was full of himselves…Gadar style fighting seeing some one resorting to eve-teasing and then i switched off.
OM, I can see your point there. RDB and TLOBS were meant to make impact, send a message, light a fire… compel us to think about our own complaceny (in)actions.
Comparing these films in itself makes for an interesting topic. Its a great example of how the same character and same story can be portrayed so differently by directors with diverse perspectives and intentions.
As for Manoj Kumar, I’m perhaps biased as my father is a big fan. It’s difficult not to recognize the talent of a man whose contribute so immensely to indian cinema as an actor, writer, director, producer and I believe as an editor as well. The man’s a certified legend.
RK yaar tum iske biography likho…
Aside from Shaheed, I think he’s done a brilliant job in Woh Kaun Thi?, Hariyali Aur Raasta, Himalay Ki Godh Mein, Gumnaam, Shor (brilliant film), Purab Aur Paschhim (another classic) and of course Roti Kapada Aur Makan which isa personal favorite… absolute classic music by Laxmikant Pyarelal with gems like “Main Na Bhoolunga”, “Haye Haye Yeh Majboori” and “Mehangai Maar Gayi”…
LOL @ OM… yes, leave it to Guddu Dhanoa to give that filmy touch to “Chandrashekhar Azaad”…
i looooved RK santoshi’s version with ajay.. amazing performance by him. rehman was in top-notch form.. if only those other filmmakers would’ve thrown aside their egos, then we wouldn’t have been inundated with 4-5 different versions on the same topic.. it was a shame that TLOBS got lost in the mix..
There is no comparison between old Shaheed and lLegend of Bhagat Singh ,Legend of Bhagat Singh was more dramatic and filmi.it was displaying bhagat singh as bollywood hero not a simple man which can change history and life of millions.
i felt that bhagat singh of lLegend of Bhagat Singh was bhagat singh with “bollywood touch” due to this ajay character was not as realistic as manoj kumar character in Shaheed.
@RK, I think the very fact that ‘Shaheed’ and ‘Legend of….’ had a gap of 37 years between them, makes them unworthy of comparison with each other. Having said that, ‘Shaheed’ I don’t think was devoid of dramatics: Manoj putting his palm over an open flame and singing “Ae watan…”, though outstandingly patriotic, was indeed quintissential bollywood drama. Again, the same is true of ‘Legend of Bhagat Singh’. Yet one can hardly identify Manoj Kumar in ‘Shaheed’ with the man who was the frontrunner of armed freedom struggle in the country, an anarchist par excellence, the author of “Why I am an Atheist”, an ardent admirer and true follower of Lenin. I beleive Ajay Devgan, the way he portrayed the rebel, fit the bill better : raw anger, angst at the way the revolution was shaping up, hinting at his socialist leanings. I say this despite the fact that both the films were made in true bollywood tradition and neither was a true-to-facts honest objective portrayal of the man that was Bhagat Singh
Hmmm… good points Amby…
Hi RK,
I am a follower of PFC and let me congratulate you all for the terrific job you are doing.
When i first saw TLOBS the first thing that struck me was it was not as dramatic as the old shaheed. Take the ending for instance, its much more abrupt in TLOBS. So even if both the movies have dramatized the events, the later movie felt realistic and was shot more like just showing events as they happened.
But due to the same reason since the older shaheed did such a good job of employing drama as a tool, it hit closer to the home and gave the audience a hero they could care much more for.
Both movies are well made and may be the earlier one has the unfair advantage of being the first one we saw and connected to.
All said, there were two things i didn’t like in the later movie. one was the depiction that, if Gandhi wanted , he could have saved Bhagat singh and he did not. I can’t comment on the truth of the times but he should have his own reasons. We don’t get to see them
Second was a scene where the Brit ladies get to know that Bhagat singh is still on hunger strike and leave the table. I could not understand what the director wanted to show? Did he want a useless nod from the brits of how gr8 our national hero was? This might also be true but it panders to our want of west’s certifying our geniuses.
And lastly a quote from Albert Camus’ book ‘The fall’ I just read it.
:”Martyrs,Cher ami,must choose between being forgotten,mocked or made use of.
As for being understood – never.”
Strikes a chord , doesn’t it?
“Remembrance of things past is just for the rich. For the poor it only marks the faint traces on the path to death”
Vinayak,Abhi:
We have only way left with us to extropolate the ideological understanding of the Bhatgat Singh during his last months/years.
He got more maturity in his last years. He certainly was not interested in the freedom from Bristishers only and he wanted full freedom for farmers, labourers and poor people from land lords and riches. A total revolution.
But he got more wisdom during last phase of his life and did not believe in this naxalite kind of revolutionary methods. Its subtle but he accepted ways of Gandhi’s open movement. Its not easy to make understand all the associates, involved in arms based revolution to take a U turn but Bhagat Singh’s emphasis on giving arrest after throwing bombs in assembly and that too in such a way that no human life gets any loss, suggests his ideological transformation.
Later his hunger strikes in the jail confirms that. With age he realised the importance of new time. Gurrilla war etc are age old concepts but Gandhi’s open movement was the new matter of new
age.
Bhagat Singh was brave and open rebel needs that kind of courage.
If he were alive, we dont know which way he would have gone? He had two ways, either to join movement headed by Neta Ji Subhash Chandra Bose or to join movement started by Gandhi and where several different leaders could do struggle in their own ways. Bhagat Singh was not that popular before he decided to give his arrest. He became popular after his arrest and during the case going on in the court against him and his associates. He got tremendous popularity in last days and if he was freed then this factor would have affected him to a great degree. Perhaps he could have been the most powerful socialist leader of India then. Young blood may or may not become agree but his vision had become politically more mature with his decision to give arrest so that he could say what he wanted to say before the court and then people would listen and pay attention to their ways. That openness was certainly a Gandhian effect on the people like Bhagat Singh.
Om, Tony:
I was 7-8 when during summer holidays, I finished all the available books, repeated them, read newspapers and magazines present in the home and then hunger to read more, compelled me to pick up a fat book from my father’s almirah. It was “Phansi ke Phande Tak” written by revolutionary and famous author Late Yashpal. and book did not allow me to leave it before the last page. Then I had Bhagat Singh, C.S Azad, BK Dutt, Rajendra Lahiri, Sukhdev, Raj Guru, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Durga and Susheela Bhabhi etc and several britsih officers live before my eyes. Imaginary faces and tales remained always alive in the memory and still can see the scenes where Bhagwati Babu got injured while testing a bomb. Or a girl throws stone on a Ustad who was teaching art of Knife to Azad and Azad got injured. Or when Azad destroyed a callender, having photo of some actress. Or how Sukhdev, went on road to check his physical power and gave a punch on the nose of a tall and heavy man and did wait to see the effect and later that man, gave a nice beating to lean and thin Sukhdev. How Bhagat Singh, escaped with the help of Durga Bhabhi. Many such accounts were given in the book. It was all alive in memmory and then 4-5 years later saw Shaheed on TV and it satisfied that imagination which was generated by the book.
Then with growing years I could read more material on Bhagat Singh, many books, his own writings and an image of Bhagat Singh built up and Ajay Devgan and Bobby Deol’s portrayals dont match with that. Its still more close to Manoj Kumar’s portrayal, whatever dramatic that was. But an idealism was connected with that performance which makes that performance closer. Now no actor is Bhagat Singh, but on the basis of available informations they have to adapt to the role.
In Shaheed, Manoj Kumar developed this mannerism of keeping finger of his hand on the lips or keeping all the fingers on his nose, but this was his first effort so it worked though in his later films it might have been giving odd impressions.
Keeping finger on lips was like famous photo of Pt Nehru where he has supported one side of cheeks with thumb and one finger of his hand while plunged in deep thinking. Such mannerisms can work.
Om, Striker, Amby, Shatrughan, Tony,Abhi
Re: TLOBS,
This is very true that 37 years make a long duration and in those years much more material had become available on the life andc ideology of Bhagat Singh and his associates. And books like “Mein Bhagat Singh Bol Raha hun” (written by Some Vyas, Raj Shekhar or Surya Kant of Gwaliar)had been published, which shed more light on the hiding days of Bhagat Singh.
when Gandhi was released, Basu Bhattacharya and some other film makers had criticized the film by saying that its made by a fan of Gandhi and if they had got 20 Crors budget they could have also made better film. It was absurd criticism generated out of jealousy.
Later when Raj Kumar Santoshi was going to release his film China Gate, he came on TV and talked about above mentioned criticism and he heavily criticized the critics of Gandhi film and said that it was not big budget of 20 Crors, but conviction, and passion of Attenborough which had been resulted in such a fine film. Well said. He became a wise man who likes justice.
Then he made TLOBS, but did he maintain his rational approach in this film?
Not to forget the political scene of India between 1996 – 2003. Gandhi was completely out and anybody from British time who could be raised opposite Gandhi was welcomed. For ref. see the fate of Hey Ram, a film made by Kamal Hasan. If it was released either before 1995 or after 2003, it could have got more attention and recognition from govt.
TLOBS gets the benefits of bending towards right wing political ideology. Being a film maker, one has to keep a balance while dealing with history which is not very old and where there is not a single defined version. Santoshi’s treatment of Gandhi in His film , raises questions about his historical understanding (while dealing it in his film, in real life he may be have different views).
Second: his depiction of Bhagat Singh, played by Ajay Devgan, turns Bhagat Singh in to some what college boy.
views may be criticized and even crucified :
Ajay Devgan got National award for his portrayal of Bhagat Singh, but it was award to the character. Its for sure if there was only one film on Bhagat Singh in that year and if it was even Bobby Deols Bhagat Singh, Bobby would have got national award.
Ajay Devgan is a good actor but director showed him as he has been in other films. Ajay throws out a kind of casual approach and this is very much present in this role also which is objectionable. You are dealing with a well read revolutionary and thinker and your ways cant be of college boy. Yes Bhagat Singh was student and quite young but his growing up was different and this difference is absent from Santoshi’s version of Bhagat Singh. More than Ajay Devgan, he is more responsible for bringing this casual and ordinary touch to the image of Bhagat Singh. Its not to say that Bhagat Singh was different and above human but he cant be in same league as Ajay Devgan does in Santoshi’s earlier film Lajja.
Bhagat Singh has a certain image in the mind and heart of people and Ajay’s approach is better with characters who dont have a predefined approach. A Nana Patekar or Manoj Bajpai could have done more justice to the role of Bhagat Singh than Ajay Devgan and Bobby Deol. They go for method acting which is must in such cases. Ajay’s case is – How Ajay Devgan would play role of Bhagat Singh.
Dialogues: There is a court room scene where Santoshi’s Bhagat Singh and his associates make mockery of britishers.
Whats that? Does it bring anything to the film other than whisteling from some cynicals in cinema halls? Is there any ideology behind those cheap dialogues? Did they really find these dialogues in the literature covering court trial?
It looked like scenes in a college where a group of students making mockery of other group of students. Just to win whistles in cinema hall, you can keep any kind of scene or dialogues in your film? a complete let down.
With Bhagat Singh matter is different. He is a character, who shows tremendous potential to become one of the most powerful charcater of last century. One has to deal with that potential while writing dialogues.
@RK:-?
I am not sure if i am going to enjoy discussing history with you.
But it sure is a pleasure reading your posts about movies.:)
vinayak babu: do what pleases you:)
something in the old Shaheed makes me feel that it was driven by love and compassion….and more importantly a sense of selflessness and sacrifice, which is lacking in movies of today. though please forgive me, i have not seen the corres. movies of Bobby Deol & Ajay Devgan, neither Rang De Basanti. The songs and performances (of 1965 Shaheed) are VERY strong and send waves in the body, which is a bit lacking in many movies of today.
One more difference which i observe between movies of yesterday & today is that the sense of camaraderie is missing today…like you are trying to glorify a PERSON than a MISSION; or that personal leadership means more than the goal. Whenever you show the power of violence as opposed to the power of love and compassion, it automatically steps down to a lower level. The old Shaheed was intended for the downtrodden, while the new movies may be intended for the fun-loving, carefree, self-centred people. Your idea of fun shows what you are as a human being.
Why is it said that Bhagat Singh’s vision became more politically mature later? Somehow i don’t like the idea that becoming more rational means becoming more mature. The kind of maturity shown by an idealist is an emotional one, that is true selflessness…driven by the pain of the masses.
Rationality is a strategic/ tactical way of achieving goals, which necessarily has to include the human element in it, which is of course NON-IDEAL / selfish. If you become too much concerned with rationality, you may lose sight of your passion/ compassion.
It has got nothing to do with time gap. Shaheed remains the Best Ever Patriotic movie even when compared to old movies. No other actor suits character of Bhagat Singh as Manoj Kumar did. Also songs and acting of each and every person is so natural..makes cry buckets.
i use 2 b very sad when i think about they martyrs suffered for independence of our nation but now bloody politicians have kept those secrifies in their bloody foot.i want 2 ask all indians r v really paying their debts
nothing can be compared with shaheed ,manoj kumar ji is exceptional with his performance and who will forget the performance of pran sahab in the movie ,allthough ajay devgan acts very nice but comparison is very difficult ,hats off to manoj kumar ji he is actually bharat kumar ,