Legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, fondly known as Bharat Kumar for his iconic patriotic roles, passed away on Friday at the age of 87, leaving behind a cinematic legacy deeply rooted in nationalism and social values.

Through his films, Manoj Kumar not only entertained but also instilled a sense of pride and patriotism in the hearts of millions. His storytelling seamlessly blended heroism, sacrifice, and love for the nation, making his films timeless classics. As the country bids farewell to one of its most influential cinematic voices, we take a look at some of his most patriotic films—stories that celebrated India’s spirit, resilience, and cultural ethos.

Bhagat Singh in ‘Shaheed’ (1965):

The year 1965 was the one when Manoj rose to stardom, delivering one box office hit after another. It started with ‘Shaheed’, a patriotic film based on the life of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, which was released on January 1. It was also the first film in a series of patriotic movies starring Manoj in the lead. ‘Shaheed’ also featured Prem Chopra and Anant Marathe as Sukhdev and Rajguru, respectively. The film also included numerous songs penned by Ram Prasad Bismil. While Manoj received critical acclaim for his portrayal of the freedom fighter, ‘Shaheed’ went on to win the Best Feature Film award at the 13th National Film Awards.

Bharat in ‘Upkar’ (1967):

In 1967, Manoj made his directorial debut with ‘Upkar’, a film set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pak war of 1965. The film is said to be inspired by former Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who suggested to Manoj that he make a film on the motto ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan’. With him in the lead, ‘Upkar’ also featured Prem Chopra, Madan Puri, Pran, Asha Parekh, and Kamini Kaushal. In ‘Upkar’, Manoj played the role of Bharat, a farmer-soldier. ‘Upkar’ is considered to be the most defying role of Manoj’s career, also the one that made his fans lovingly call him ‘Bharat Kumar’.

Bharat in ‘Purab Aur Paschim’ (1970):

After ‘Shaheed’ and ‘Upkar’, Manoj’s next patriotic-flavoured film was ‘Purab Aur Paschim’, which was also directed and produced by him. It was also the second film that saw him take the character name as ‘Bharat’. In the movie, Manoj plays the role of Bharat, son of a freedom fighter, who goes to London for his higher studies. In London, Bharat comes across his late father’s college friend and his family, and eventually falls in love with his daughter, Preeti. Even though Preeti has westernised while staying in London and doesn’t want to move to India, she eventually does. The cult classic was later remade in 2007 as ‘Namastey London’.

Bharat in ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’ (1974):

Another acclaimed work of Manoj is ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’, a film that is one of the best Bollywood films of that era. Written, directed, and produced by Manoj, the 1974 film starred him in the lead role alongside Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, and Moushumi Chatterjee. A socially relevant film, ‘Roti Kapda Makaan’ saw Manoj play Bharat’s character, who, after his father’s demise, takes care of his younger siblings - two brothers and one daughter. Bharat struggles with finding a decent-paying job to raise his family, yet he makes his younger brothers join the police and army.

Bharat in ‘Kranti’ (1981):

Another Manoj Kumar directorial, ‘Kranti’ featured an ensemble cast comprising him, Dilip Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, and Parveen Babi. A patriotic historical drama that is set during the British Raj, it revolves around Sanga (Dilip), who finds out that the Britishers are using a local king’s port for smuggling ammunition, instead of trading purposes. Sanga decides to tell the king, but before he can, the king is killed and Sanga is framed for his murder. Eventually, Sanga manages to escape his death sentence and creates a group of revolutionaries to throw the Britishers out of India. ‘Kranti’ is considered one of the best patriotic films in the history of Hindi cinema. It made several records, including becoming the fastest earner at that time. It had a theatrical run of 67 weeks, including having 96 housefull shows at a theater. ‘Kranti’ celebrated its golden jubilee at several theaters in India.