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Upkar

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Upkar
Directed byManoj Kumar
Written byManoj Kumar
Produced byHarkishen R. Mirchandani
R. N. Goswami
StarringAsha Parekh
Manoj Kumar
Prem Chopra
CinematographyV. N. Reddy
Edited byB. S. Glaad
Music byKalyanji Anandji
Production
company
Vishal Pictures
Distributed byVishal Pictures
Release date
  • 11 August 1967 (1967-08-11)
Running time
175 min.
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Upkar (transl. Favour) is a 1967 Indian Hindi film directed by Manoj Kumar. The film held the top spot at the box office in 1967.[1] It was Manoj Kumar's directorial debut film. Then India's prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri suggested Kumar make a film based on our farmers and soldiers.[2] It was the highest-grossing movie of the year. It is considered an evergreen classic film.

The film is based on the backdrop of a war of 1965, it praised the village life, farmers' and soldiers' contributions to the nation. It was praised for its story, photography, songs, lyrics, and acting.[2]

The movie also stars Asha Parekh as a doctor promoting family planning, Kamini Kaushal, and Pran in his first positive character role. Madan Puri played the main villain with ease, full ability, and command. The film won several major awards.[citation needed]

Plot

Manoj Kumar plays a village man called Bharat, who sacrifices everything to get his brother educated. His brother, Puran, goes to study in the city and gets attracted to the high society lifestyle. He comes back to the village as a selfish man wanting his share of the property. Bharat is unwilling to divide the property and transfers the full property land to Puran's son to prevent Puran from selling the land.

But, when the war of 1965 between India and Pakistan breaks out, Bharat goes to the war front; while his selfish brother, with the help of his greedy uncle Charandas and some partners, tries to gain profit by hoarding and black marketing grains in the market. But later Puran discovers Charandas' plan to separate Puran from Bharat and, ridden with guilt and shame, surrenders to the police.

Bharat fights bravely in the war but is captured by the enemy. He later manages to escape but is badly injured and loses both his hands. In the end, Bharat returns as a war hero, his brother apologizes and both brothers again start to live in the village, working hard in the fields as farmers.

Cast

Production

  • Origin - India's second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri suggested Manoj Kumar to make a movie based on his slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan. After India defeated Pakistan in 1965 war. Shastri wanted to raise moral of the country.
  • Principal photography-

The principal photography happened at Nangal Thakran village of Delhi state. It is present on North East side of New Delhi. The film unit took bullock carts, ploughs from the villagers for filming, house of the village are used for Bharat (Manoj Kumar) house. The cast and production used to arrive at morning for filming and used to return to Delhi at night. They lived in the village during filming of night sequences. The field of one of the resident of village is used as of Bharat, where "Mere Desh Ki Dharti " song was filmed.[3] Some portions are filmed in Rajkamal Kala-mandir studio, Kamal studio, Gurudatt studio and Mehaboob studio.

Soundtrack

The film's music was given by Kalyanji Anandji. Lyrics for Upkar were penned by Qamar Jalalabadi, Indeevar, Gulshan Bawra, and Sitaram Dhawan. The song, "Mere Desh Ki Dharti Sona Ugle Ugle Heere Moti, Mere Desh Ki Dharti", sung by Mahendra Kapoor was a chartbuster.

No. Title Lyrics Singer(s)
1 "Deewanon Se Ye Mat Poocho" Qamar Jalalabadi Mukesh
2 "Kasme Waade Pyar Wafa" Indeevar Manna Dey
3 "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" Gulshan Bawra Mahendra Kapoor
4 "Aayi Jhoomke Basant" Prem Dhawan Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum, Mahendra Kapoor & Manna Dey
5 "Gulabi Raat Gulabi" Indeevar Asha Bhosle
6 "Har Khushi Ho Wahan" Gulshan Bawra Lata Mangeshkar
7 "Yeh Kali Raat Kali" Indeevar Mohd. Rafi

Reception

The songs of Upkar became hit. Still the song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" (transl. Land of my country) is played during Republic day and Independence day of India.[2]

Many years later, Manoj Kumar said that one of the most beautiful screen images that stuck in his mind was a "half-lit Asha Parekh" in this film.[4]

Awards and nominations

15th Filmfare Awards:

Won

Nominated

Other Awards

References

  1. ^ "Worth Their Weight in Gold! - Box Office India : India's premier film trade magazine". Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Upkar — film born of churn in newly-Independent India gave Bollywood a hit formula". 15 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Story of a movie and a Delhi village". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  4. ^ http://75.125.77.246/columns/2004/aug/90040.htm
  5. ^ a b The Times of India, Entertainment. "National Awards Winners 1967: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1967". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  6. ^ "69th & 70th Annual Hero Honda BFJA Awards 2007". Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
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