Dilip Kumar in `Naya Daur`

Set in the backdrop of an India that was on the threshold of industrialisation, BR Chopra’s `Naya Daur` (1957) starring Dilip Kumar, Ajit and Vyjanthimala became a cult film of sorts. Dilip Kumar plays Shankar, a tangewala in the film, who had a revolutionary zeal in him. He and his fellow tangewalas earned their living by transporting commuters from one place to the other but their livelihood is threatened when Jeevan (a mean and a filthy rich landlord) tries to initiate bus services in the village with the sole intention of driving the tangewalas out of the town. Dilip Kumar dares to make a noise against such an injustice but none support him. In the end, the young man who stands by righteousness wins the fight, thereby safeguarding the interests of many in his village. This goes to show that even a one man army can win a battle provided he is right.

Nargis in `Mother India`

Nargis starrer `Mother India’ (1957) is one of the classic films of all times. The story revolves around Radha, whose husband leaves her all alone out of exasperation, for he feels helpless and incompetent after his arms are amputated after a rock falls on him. A mother of four children, Radha single handedly brings them up with dignity and respect. The landlord of the village offers her money as compensation if she met with his foul demands. But Radha stands undeterred despite adversities even as she loses two of her children in a flood. She is the only villager who decides to stay back in the village when the rest of the inhabitants leave for newer places for a better life.

Manoj Kumar in `Upkar`

Manoj Kumar aka Bharat Kumar plays a villager in the 1967 blockbuster `Upkar` , who leaves no stone unturned to bring up and educate his brother played by Prem Chopra. He sends his sibling abroad to pursue further education. Bharat, then joins the Indian army in the 1965 war against Pakistan. But when he comes home after winning the war, he finds his brother showing disloyalty to him by grabbing the whole of his ancestral property. Bharat, however, has least interest in wealth and property and inspires his brother to live for the sake of the nation.

Dharmendra in `Haqeeqat`

Written and directed by Chetan Anand, `Haqeeqat` released in 1964 was set in the backdrop of the Sino-Indo war of 1962. Dharmendra plays Captain Bahadur Singh who rescues Indian soldiers from the rugged terrain of Ladakh. Capt. Bahadur Singh and his ladylove Angmo, played by Priya Rajvansh give away their lives while protecting the Indian soldiers from the Chinese. This goes to show how an individual be instrumental in doing a world of good to a nation.

Manoj Kumar in `Poorab Aur Paschim`

Manoj Kumar plays Bharat in the 1970 super hit film `Poorab Aur Paschim`. The title of the film is self- explanatory. In the film, Manoj Kumar attends the Oxford University so that he can return to India and implement all his learning for the benefit of the nation. But he is scandalised to see Indian living in abroad getting influenced by western culture and showing least inclination towards Indian culture and the country itself. Bharat plays a pivotal role in helping NRIs re-unite with their families back in India.

Dev Anand in `Prem Pujari`

Dev Anand plays Ramdev Bakshi in `Prem Pujari` released in 1970, who is least interested in waging war and violence, is forcibly sent to the Indo Chinese Border by his father. He faces court-martial for not being able to fulfil his duties as a soldier. But he falls prey to the Chinese, who keep him in their custody. On being humiliated by them, he realises the nationalist in him. He eventually joins the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. This is where Dev Anand discovers the strength in him to gun down his enemies. This proves that at any point in time, a person can awaken to his responsibilities towards his country.

Dilip Kumar in ‘Karma’

The 80s was more about disco and love stories, but one film and one character that epitomised patriotism was Subhash Ghai’s ‘Karma’(1986) and Dilip Kumar’s portrayal of Dada Thakur. As the honest cop who kept his inmates happy, Dilip Kumar essayed the role of a patriot and selfless police officer whose professional enmity costs his family and leads to the death of his two sons. The film had some powerful characters and melodious music. Who can forget Nutan crooning ‘Dil Diya Hai Jaan bhi denge aye watan tere liye’ for the jail inmates?

Anil Kapoor in ‘Mr India’

Mr India released 1987 and was probably the first sci-fi India film. It went on to become a cult classic and Anil Kapoor went on to get the popular tag of ‘Mr India’. As Arun Verma, Anil portrayed a common man who ends up getting a super power- the power of invisibility at his own will. The rest of the film is about how an ordinary man uses his power to save his people and the country from the evil plans of Mogambo (Amrish Puri). Directed by Shekhar Kapur, the film also starred Sridevi and host of child actors.

Nana Patekar in ‘Krantiveer’

The role of Pratap Narayan Tilak fetched Nana Patekar the National Award in the best actor category that year. As a dissuaded alcoholic who is made aware of the corrupt system by a conscious journalist, Nana portrayed an aggressive character, who takes the system in his own hands and tries to change it his way. Who can forget the famous scene where Nana mixes the blood of a Hindu and a Muslim and asks a pious Hindu man to differentiate between the two? The film was directed by Mehul Kumar and released in 1994.

Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty and Akshaye Khanna in ‘Border’

Although the story was based on the 1971 Indo-Pak war, it released in 1997. High on patriotism and machismo like any other war movie, each of the lead characters reiterated the concept of Bharat Mata and how sacrificing one’s life for one’s nation is the done thing. Based on real life characters, each actor portrayed the emotions and trials of an army man with élan. Directed by JP Dutta, the film had some melodious music by Anu Malik which reinstated the feeling of being an Indian.

Anil Kapoor in ‘Nayak: The Real Hero’

In Nayak(2001), an ambitious TV cameraman (Anil Kapoor) is made the Chief Minister for a day. Shivaji Rao takes on the job with all seriousness and makes tremendous changes in just one day. The film highlighted the misdeeds that politicians indulge in on a day to day basis. It showed red tapism, corruption, poverty and how the problems can be solved if the approach is right. Even though the film did not do well, Anil Kapoor’s performance was lauded.

Sunny Deol in ‘Gadar’

Tara Singh’s tryst with the Pakistan army is the stuff that legends are made of. The film portrays Sunny Deol as a Punjabi truck driver, who marries Amisha Patel, who belongs to a high profile family in Pakistan. When Amisha’s family forces her to marry to rich Paksitani in spite of her being married to Sunny and being a mother of a little boy, Tara goes to Pakistan to get his wife back to his own country. In between fighting Pakistani police and army, he delivers legendary dialogues about how the country should be internally indebted to India for granting them financial help during the Partition. The film released in 2001 and was huge Box Office hit.

Aamir Khan in ‘Lagaan’

The same year Aamir Khan made his foray into films as a producer. Ashtutosh Gowarikar’s ‘Lagaan’ was also nominated in the foreign films category at the Oscars in 2001. As Bhuvan, Aamir motivated his entire village to fight the oppressive British Rule and the illogical tax laws that they had imposed on the Indians. In a unique cricket match, they not only defeat the British at their own game but also are able to rebuke the tax laws.

Hrithik Roshan in ‘Lakshya’

As a reluctant, aimless Karan Shergill, Hrithik Roshan portrayed a role which lot of us could identify with. Karan was aimless and had nothing to do with patriotism or his country initially. But later on went to on to become a successful army officer who led his troupe at one of the key points in Kargil and also saved a fellow officer in the war zone. The film was directed by Farhan Akhtar and released in 2004.

Madhavan in ‘Rang De Basanti’

As an honest air force officer, Madhavan portrayed a character who had not given up hope on the system. Remember the scene where he tells his misguided carefree friends about how its easy to complain and how each of them need to act more responsibly than blame the system for everything? A cult film(released in 2006) of the current generation, it talked about social issues that are prevalent in the society and encouraged the youth to act more responsibly towards its own country.

Zee Media Bureau Archive