Shaheed (1965 film)


Shaheed is a 1965 Hindi movie based on Bhagat Singh's life. One of the most prominent Indian patriotic movies based on the Indian independence movement, it was produced by Kewal Kashyap and directed by S. Ram Sharma and stars Manoj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Pran, Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri and Anwar Hussain in lead roles. The music is by Prem Dhawan, with several songs written by freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil. Shaheed was the first of Manoj Kumar's series of patriotic films, followed by the likes of Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti.
At the 13th National Film Awards, Shaheed won the award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and the award for Best Screenplay for B. K. Dutt and Din Dayal Sharma.
The film was screened retrospectively on 15 August 2016 at the Independence Day Film Festival, jointly presented by the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals and Ministry of Defense, commemorating 70th Indian Independence Day.

Plot

It is the year 1916 in India. Sardar Kishan Singh and his family, including son Bhagat, are distressed when Sardar's brother, Ajit Singh, is arrested for speaking out against the British. He then mysteriously disappears after supposedly escaping from prison and is never heard from again. This makes a strong impression on young Bhagat Singh's mind. When he grows up, he joins the freedom fighting movement headed by Chandrashekar Azad. He sees an unarmed protester against the Simon Commission, killed by the police. Bhagat, Chandrashekar Azad, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Jaygopal decide to avenge this death by killing Assistant Commissioner Saunders. They succeed in killing him. They then flee to evade the massive police manhunt. Bhagat is a prime suspect, having been identified as the Sikh with the turban. Bhagat removes his turban, shaves his beard, and, having changed his appearance, returns to the freedom movement.
Time passes. Bhagat Singh and comrade Batukeshwar Dutt explode a bomb in the Central Assembly of the British Parliament as an act of protest. Together with other freedom fighters, including Bhagat's best friend Sukhdev, they are arrested and prosecuted, then thrown in prison. They are incarcerated in the jail at Lahore, where they are continually persecuted and tortured by the prison guards.
After seeing the maltreatment of Bhartiya prisoners, Bhagat and his fellow freedom fighters announce a hunger strike, during which Yadintranath dies. The government gives in and agrees to change the way prisoners are treated. As the case in the killing of Saunders continues, Bhagat and his comrades give poignant speeches in the court condemning British imperialism. Chandrashekhar Ajad and Bhagwati Charan Vohra try to help the freedom fighters escape, but the attempt fails, and Bhagavati Bhaiya dies in the process. Chandrashekhar Ajad subsequently kills himself during his encounter with a group of British men in Alfred Park.
The trial ends. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev are all given death sentences. Fearing public protests, the British secretly send Bhagat Singh and Rajguru to the gallows a day before they are officially supposed to be executed. The men shout: "Long live the Revolution!" just before they are executed.

Cast

Music: Prem Dhawan, Lyricist: Prem Dhawan
#TitleSinger
1"Ai Vatan Ai Vatan Hamko Teri Kasam"Mohammad Rafi
2"Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna"Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey & Rajendra Mehta
3"Jogi, Ham To Lut Gaye Tere Pyaar Men"Lata Mangeshkar
4"O Mera Rang De Basanti Chola"Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar & Rajendra Mehta
5"Pagadi Sambhaal Jattaa"Mohammad Rafi
6"Watan Pe Marne Wale Zinda Rahega Tera Naam"Mohammad Rafi