Marking the second day of Ekagra, film Shaheed was screened. The film was screened at Bharat Bhavan here on Wednesday.
Shaheed is a 1948 Bollywood Indian film, directed by Ramesh Saigal and written by Wajahat Mirza. The film depicts India's struggle for independence. It starred Dilip Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Chandra Mohan, and Leela Chitnis. It had lyrics by Qamar Jalalabadi and music by Ghulam Haider. Songs like "Watan ki Raah Men Watan Ke Naujawan Shaheed Ho" and "Badnaam Na Ho Jaaye Mohabbat Ka Fasana" have not lost their appeal even after 60 years of the film's release.
Ram, a police officer's son, finds himself at loggerheads with his father when he decides to participate in the Indian freedom struggle.
Mostly, though, it’s a film about relationships, the most powerful one at hand being that between a young freedom fighter (Dilip Kumar) and his father (Chandramohan) with British loyalties.
In 1930 Amritsar, Raibahadur Dwarkadas is the Deputy Commissioner in His Majesty’s police force. Gandhi has just completed his Salt March, a protest against British salt taxes, and the country is in a rebellious mood. Dwarkadas, being a staunch participant in and defender of the Raj, is not popular with the townspeople.
Ram, now bereft of Sheila’s companionship, grows up watching as protests spread and clashes between Indians and the British government escalate. The distance between him and his father grows, with his father blaming poor Maa (she spoils him) for Ram’s rebellion.
Fast-forwarding to August of 1942, Ram ( Dilip Kumar) tells mother that he’s off to a Congress conference. In reality he is now leading a band of revolutionaries who have embraced violence as their means to an end. Predictably, Vinod (Ram Singh) has grown up and joined the very police force presided over by Dwarkadas.
Ram on the other hand joins revolutionaries and sacrifices his entire life for nation.