<p>Mumbai: The legendary Manoj Kumar brought Bhagat Singh’s mother to the premiere of the iconic movie <em>Shaheed</em>, the actor-filmmaker’s son Kunal Goswami said as the inaugural edition of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) paid tributes to him.</p><p>“My father lost everything during Partition, but never lost his vision. From living in refugee camps to scripting iconic stories in Urdu, his journey is a testimony of resilience. He brought Bhagat Singh’s mother to the premiere of ‘Shaheed’— that’s how personal his patriotism was. He created blockbusters that were also deeply nationalistic — a rare feat,” he said.</p><p>During the inaugural education of WAVES - “Remembering Manoj Kumar: Ace Filmmaker, True Nationalist” - a discussion was held, which was moderated by noted film critic and podcaster Mayank Shekhar.</p><p>National Award winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, the director of acclaimed movies such as Page 3, Chandni Bar and Fashion, remembered in awe Manoj Kumar’s cinematic techniques remarking that the way he shot songs was incredible. </p><p>Bhandarkar added that Manoj Kumar’s films were layered with nationalism and social realism, something he has tried to echo in his own work. “Chandni Bar was in many ways a subconscious tribute to Manoj Kumar’s ethos,” said Bhandarkar.</p>.Madhya Pradesh government to roll out film tourism, AVGC-XR policies at WAVES.<p>Dr Raajeev Shrivastav, senior author and lyricist, shared an awe-inspiring tale:</p><p>“At the screening of ‘Shaheed’ in Delhi attended by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Prime minister asked Manoj Kumar to create a movie based on his slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.’ Inspired by this, Manoj Kumar wrote the story for Upkaar on the overnight train journey back to Mumbai. Manoj Kumar’s life was a cinematic mission to speak to the common man. In this way his spirit mirrors the essence of WAVES itself.”</p><p>Bharti Pradhan, veteran columnist and biographer, offered a poignant reflection:</p><p>“Despite his massive success, he was incredibly approachable. Even while unwell, he was dreaming of his next film. That was his spirit — always looking forward.”</p><p>Born, Harikrishan Goswami on 24 July, 1937, Manoj Kumar aka Bharat Kumar passed away on April 4, 2025.</p><p>Uprooted by partition, he came to Bombay with dreams but no film connections. A self-made storyteller who initially wrote scripts in Urdu, Kumar crafted a distinct cinematic voice — blending mainstream appeal with a deep sense of nationalism and social conscience.</p><p>Manoj Kumar was the recipient of numerous accolades including the Padma Shri and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. His films — Shaheed, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Upkaar, Kranti — were not just cinematic landmarks but cultural milestones. The session concluded with thumping applause from the audience and a collective sense of gratitude for a man who made patriotism poetic, and storytelling sublime.</p>
<p>Mumbai: The legendary Manoj Kumar brought Bhagat Singh’s mother to the premiere of the iconic movie <em>Shaheed</em>, the actor-filmmaker’s son Kunal Goswami said as the inaugural edition of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) paid tributes to him.</p><p>“My father lost everything during Partition, but never lost his vision. From living in refugee camps to scripting iconic stories in Urdu, his journey is a testimony of resilience. He brought Bhagat Singh’s mother to the premiere of ‘Shaheed’— that’s how personal his patriotism was. He created blockbusters that were also deeply nationalistic — a rare feat,” he said.</p><p>During the inaugural education of WAVES - “Remembering Manoj Kumar: Ace Filmmaker, True Nationalist” - a discussion was held, which was moderated by noted film critic and podcaster Mayank Shekhar.</p><p>National Award winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, the director of acclaimed movies such as Page 3, Chandni Bar and Fashion, remembered in awe Manoj Kumar’s cinematic techniques remarking that the way he shot songs was incredible. </p><p>Bhandarkar added that Manoj Kumar’s films were layered with nationalism and social realism, something he has tried to echo in his own work. “Chandni Bar was in many ways a subconscious tribute to Manoj Kumar’s ethos,” said Bhandarkar.</p>.Madhya Pradesh government to roll out film tourism, AVGC-XR policies at WAVES.<p>Dr Raajeev Shrivastav, senior author and lyricist, shared an awe-inspiring tale:</p><p>“At the screening of ‘Shaheed’ in Delhi attended by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Prime minister asked Manoj Kumar to create a movie based on his slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.’ Inspired by this, Manoj Kumar wrote the story for Upkaar on the overnight train journey back to Mumbai. Manoj Kumar’s life was a cinematic mission to speak to the common man. In this way his spirit mirrors the essence of WAVES itself.”</p><p>Bharti Pradhan, veteran columnist and biographer, offered a poignant reflection:</p><p>“Despite his massive success, he was incredibly approachable. Even while unwell, he was dreaming of his next film. That was his spirit — always looking forward.”</p><p>Born, Harikrishan Goswami on 24 July, 1937, Manoj Kumar aka Bharat Kumar passed away on April 4, 2025.</p><p>Uprooted by partition, he came to Bombay with dreams but no film connections. A self-made storyteller who initially wrote scripts in Urdu, Kumar crafted a distinct cinematic voice — blending mainstream appeal with a deep sense of nationalism and social conscience.</p><p>Manoj Kumar was the recipient of numerous accolades including the Padma Shri and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. His films — Shaheed, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Upkaar, Kranti — were not just cinematic landmarks but cultural milestones. The session concluded with thumping applause from the audience and a collective sense of gratitude for a man who made patriotism poetic, and storytelling sublime.</p>