Bollywood Icon Manoj Kumar Passes Away at 87: A Pioneer of Patriotic Films

Passes Away at 87: Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, renowned for his patriotic and intense performances, passed away at the age of 87 on April 4.

His moral remains will be kept at his Juhu residence from Friday afternoon so that industry colleagues and fans can pay final respects. Cremation will most likely take place on Saturday.

Speaking about the late actor, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit told ANI, “Sad to inform you all that the legendary Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, our inspiration and the 'lion' of the Indian film industry, Manoj Kumar Ji is no more.”

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"He breathed his last at Kokilaben Hospital Andheri after being not well for a very, very long time. It is a great loss to the industry. Manoj ji, we will really miss you. We all kept on meeting him occasionally. He was always full of life. He was always happy. The entire industry will miss him. A great soul like him, a great maker like him, will never be there in our industry..

Who Was Manoj Kumar?

Originally named Harikrishna Giri Goswami, Manoj Kumar played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of patriotic cinema in Bollywood. His portrayal of nationalist characters on screen earned him the revered title of ‘Bharat Kumar.’.

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Kumar, a distinguished figure in Indian cinema, was celebrated for his contributions with numerous accolades, including a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards across various categories.

Manoj Kumar was born Harikrishnan Giri Goswami in 1937 in Abbottabad, which is now in Pakistan. His family shifted to Delhi during the Partition. Kumar made his debut in 1957 with the film, 'Fashion', but, it was his film 'Kanch Ki Gudiya', that got him his first break in the industry.

Besides his patriotic ventures, Manoj Kumar's versatility shone through in a variety of other roles across different genres. His filmography includes hits like "Hariyali Aur Raasta", "Woh Kaun Thi", "Himalaya Ki God Mein", and "Kranti", showcasing his range as an actor and director. Each of these films contributed to his legacy as a stalwart of Indian cinema, whose work transcended the typical boundaries of film-making to touch upon themes of social and national importance.

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