Manoj Kumar to be bestowed with Dadasaheb Phalke Award
The award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
The award consists of a Swarn Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs and a shawl.
"The award is given on the basis of recommendations of a Committee of eminent personalities set up by the Government for this purpose. This year, a five member jury viz. Latha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Salim Khan, Nitin Mukesh and Anup Jalota, unanimously recommended Shri Manoj Kumar for the prestigious Award. Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Arun Jaitley spoke to Shri Manoj Kumar today and congratulated him on being conferred the Award," read a government statement.
Shri remembered for his films Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun Thi, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Do Badan, Upkaar, Patthar Ke Sanam, Neel Kamal, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, and Kranti. He is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes.
Manoj Kumar was born in July 1937, in Abbottabad, then part of Pre-Independent India. When he was 10, he shifted to Delhi. After graduating from Hindu College, University of Delhi, he decided to enter the film industry.
After making a début in film Fashion in 1957, Manoj Kumar got his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudia in 1960. In the following years, Shri Manoj Kumar featured in films like Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun Thi, Himalaya Ki God Mein. Manoj Kumar featured in film Do Badan, which was remembered for many reasons including Raj Khosla's direction, Manoj Kumar’s performance and the outstanding musical score by Ravi, immortal songs by the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni, among others.
In the 1960s his successful films included romantic films like Honeymoon, Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan, Sawan Ki Ghata and social films like Shaadi, Grihasti, Apne Huwe Paraye, Pehchaan, and Aadmi.
Shri Manoj Kumar's image as the patriotic hero started with the 1965 film Shaheed, based on the life of Bhagat Singh. After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan. The result was Kumar's magnum opus and his directorial debut, Upkaar. In the mid-1970s Kumar starred in three hit films: Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) was a social commentary featuring an all-star cast including Zeenat Aman, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan.
This Hall of Fame includes Sarva Shri Dilip Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Gulzar, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Soumitra Chatterjee, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen who were conferred the Award in the past few years.
Manoj Kumar is a recipient of National Film Award for the film “Upkaar”. In the year 1992, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India. Shri Manoj Kumar is married to Smt.Shashi Goswami. He has two sons, Vishal and Kunal.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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