New Delhi: On Tuesday, Actor
Manoj Kumar was conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award by President
Pranab Mukherjee at the 63rd National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi, for
his contribution to the film industry.
The 78-year-old actor got a standing
ovation from the audience as he was taken to the stage on a wheelchair at
Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, to receive Indian cinema’s highest honor.
Kumar, who became the 47th recipient of the
award, was presented with the Swarn Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a cash
prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl by the President. Best known for his films Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun
Thi?, Purab Aur Paschim, Upkar and Kranti,
Himalaya Ki God Mein, Do Badan, Patthar Ke Sanam, Shaheed, Roti Kapda Aur
Makaan, Kumar became popular as “Bharat Kumar” thanks to his patriotic dramas.
He went on to star in romantic hits like Honeymoon,
Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Do Badan, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan, Sawan Ki
Ghata.
The actor later shifted his focus to films
with patriotic theme by acting in films like Shaheed,
which was based on the life of Bhagat Singh. Kumar made his directorial debut
with Upkaar, which is
said to be inspired by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s popular
slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kissan’.
Kumar’s career started to decline after Kranti. He quit acting after
his appearance in the 1995 film Maidan-E-Jung but returned as a director to
launch son, Kunal Goswami, in the 1999 film Jai
Hind which had a patriotic
theme. The film, however, did not do well at the box office.
The actor won a National Film Award for Upkaar and was honored with the Padma
Shri by the Government of India in 1992. Recent Dadasaheb Phalke winners
include iconic names like Shashi Kapoor, Gulzar, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Soumitra
Chatterjee and Mrinal Sen.
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