Films based on real life patriots

By Parag Chandrabala Maniar

Shaheed Bhagat Singh (1953)
Scripted by Manoj Bharat Kumar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, portrayed the life and times of the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh who preferred to hang himself to death rather than cow down before the British Raj. Having being brought up in an atmosphere that professed patriotism, Bhagat Singh wanted to uproot the British since childhood. One day, he even asked his father why they couldn’t grow guns in their field so that he could fight the British dead. Bhagat Singh died at the young age of 23 not with remorse but a smile of pride. The film fetched Manoj Kumar his first National Award. It also marked the debut of a young talented actor who later went to become the most popular villain of Hindi cinema, Prem Chopra. The film was released in 1963 and had gone to become a huge hit at the box-office

Jhansi Ki Rani (1953)
Shorab Modi’s magnum opus had actress Mehtab play the title role. The film was released in 1953 and was based on the life of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi who led an uprising against her takeover of her homeland Jhansi by the British. She lived only for twenty-two years and was known as the great heroine of the first struggle for India’s Freedom. The film became a huge hit at the box-office and brought into light the courage of a woman who valiantly fought the British not giving up her kingdom even once.

Chandrashekhar Azad (1963)
Yesteryear actor Jairaj, who recently died at the age of 90, played the title role. The film showed the struggle he had put in to visualize a free India. A film on this revolutionary is to be made yet again and will have none other than Abhishek Bachchan who will essay the role of the freedom fighter. The film will be made on an international scale.

Gandhi (1983)
Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi was the first film to have brought India on the international scene because it was through this film that for the first time an Indian designer, Bhanu Athiya got an Oscar for the costumes she made for the film. Sadly, it took a foreigner and not an Indian to make a film on the Father Of The Nation. Starring Ben Kingsley as Gandhi, the film portrayed the life and times of Gandhiji, right from the time he was thrown out of the first class compartment in South Africa to his brutal assassination by Nathuram Godse. The film marked the debut of yet another talented actress—Rohini Hattangadi who played Kasturba Gandhi in the film. This three hour long film was a masterpiece and went to win several awards at international film festivals.

Sardar Patel (1994)
Paresh Rawal played the title role to the T! Based on the life of nationalist leader Sardar Vallabhai Patel the film dared to bring into focus the Kashmir issue depicting how Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had committed grave mistake by handing over the matter to the United Nations, much against the will of Sardar Patel. The film was directed by noted filmmaker Ketan Mehta and was released in 1994.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000)
Jabbar Patel’s masterpiece had Mammooty as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The film fetched Mammootty a National Award for the best actor. Jabbar Patel in an interview had said that he always felt passionately for Ambedkar’s life and once while sitting with Mrinal Gore he just happened to mention how he wanted to make a film on his life. Thus, his dream took shape of reality as Mrinal helped him get funds from National Film Development Corporation and meet Ambedkar’s family and friends. Jabbar even met Ambedkar’s second wife though she had not stayed with him for long time. It was after eight years of their marriage that Ambedkar died and she had to fend for herself. The film fetched several other awards at major film festivals.