Bhagat Singh Birth Anniversary: 4 Films That Immortalized The Revolutionary
Updated on: 28 September, 2023 04:37 PM IST |Shreyas Pande
Bhagat Singh is an important figure in the history of India who led a remarkable life of just 23 years. His fearlessness of thought and the sheer ferocity of his actions shook the British government to the core. Born on this day in 1908, Bhagat Singh is an icon for the youth even today.
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Due to his growing popularity, his image has been rendered in the minds of everyone. His rare picture where he is wearing a hat with a sharp, thin moustache is unforgettable. Due to the greater relevance of his thoughts and ideas even today, many films have been made about his life. In the year 2002 alone, three films came out with Bobby Deol, Ajay Devgn, and Sonu Sood playing the lead roles. That makes it clear how Bhagat Singh still lives in public memory. So, here are four films made through the years that use an interplay of music and stark visuals to bring out the man and his legacy:
1) Shaheed (1965): In many ways, Shaheed created a way for all the other films to follow. Right from the placement of songs and the major events in the life of the revolutionary, the film creates cinematic scenarios to take you through the details of everything. Beginning with the ‘Pagdi Smabhal Jatta’ movement that is mixed with a timeless song, it introduces the core conflict from the eyes of a Bhagat Singh, who is still a child, asking important questions about the nation to his mother. Manoj Kumar plays Bhagat Singh with charming simplicity and ease, his eyes exhuming the flames that must have sent tremors to the British. What remains a highlight of the film is its music, which provides an emotional release by creating a sense of melancholy as well as a spark of hope. Sung by Mohammed Rafi in a dreary voice, “Sarfaroshi Ki Tammanna” feels almost like a cry meted out by the jailed revolutionaries. The highlight of the song is also the manner in which it is filmed, showing the Indian jailer in conflict, seeing his fellow countrymen go through the sufferings of jail. “Shaheed” created a perfect template for bringing out the life of Bhagat Singh through an interplay of music and visuals that was followed in varying degrees by all the films made later.
2) The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002): Where Shaheed was aimed at showing just the lives of the three revolutionaries, The Legend of Bhagat Singh goes further to ask some questions about the way his hanging was carried out. Structured loosely around Shaheed in terms of the narrative points, the film is widely accessible and engaging. The music designed by AR Rahman blends with the visuals very well, often leading to the creation of new meanings through the perfect interplay. One of the most evocative instances of such a blend is again in the song ‘Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna’, where the young revolutionaries are on a hunger strike in jail, demanding better conditions. In all its sincerity, The Legend of Bhagat Singh still remains the most authentic portrayal of Bhagat Singh on screen that fills you up with rage. In that way, the film passes the baton onto the viewers to make sense of the times of today with the fiery ideas of Bhagat Singh.
3) Rang De Basanti (2005): Rang De Basanti is an innovation in terms of its filmmaking, where it uses a popular story from history and pins it to the current times, creating thought-provoking parallels. The film uses a non-linear storyline where some college students are playing the roles of different revolutionaries for a ary film to be made. Everything about the film breathes fresh air, with the songs having a rock-and-roll feel that captures the rebellious nature of being young, wild, and free. We get a glimpse into the life of Bhagat Singh and how it changes the lives of five youngsters by giving them a purpose in their lives. It becomes a practical exploration of the ideas of Bhagat Singh and the path that he followed, creating a direct dialogue with the youth of today. The music by AR Rahman evokes all kinds of feelings, especially in the song “Luka Chuppi”, sung with heartbreaking brilliance by Lata Mangeshkar. The film remains a must-watch even today.
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4) Sadar Udham (2021): Here is a film that doesn’t show us the popularly known image of Bhagat Singh, which is of a fearless revolutionary who gave up his life for the nation. The film reminds us that apart from someone who was deeply concerned about the state of affairs, Bhagat Singh was also a youngster who was fun to be around with. In Sardar Udham, we only see Bhagat Singh in 2-3 scenes where Udham interacts with him, and it feels like a completely different personality than we are used to seeing. Shoojit Sircar makes it a point to give the man some humanity by choosing to show his lighter side to the world. He is evoked constantly through dialogues during the interrogation of Sardar Udham, where he explains the ideas behind his actions. Bhagat Singh seems to be present throughout the film and remains a shadow behind everything that Udham does.
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