Greatest songs of Manoj Kumar: From ‘Lag Jaa Gale’ to ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti’-OxBig News Network

Legendary Indian actor Manoj Kumar passed away at 87 in Mumbai after battling prolonged illness. A celebrated actor, filmmaker and lyricist, Manoj Kumar was known for patriotic films that helped define ideas of Indian nationhood.

His movies such as Woh Kaun Thi?, Upkar and Purab Aur Paschim are not only cultural touchstones but a repository of indelible images and sounds. Working in the golden age of Hindi film music, Manoj Kumar was the face of several iconic songs woven into our national memory.

Here are some of the greatest songs of Manoj Kumar to mourn him with —

‘Lag Jaa Gale’ from Woh Kaun Thi?’

The first entry, of course, shouldn’t be surprising. Easily the most popular among the audiences, Lag Jaa Gale is one of the many iconic songs by which legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar is remembered. With music composed by Madan Mohan Kohli and lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, the song featured Manoj alongside Sadhana.

‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti’ from ‘Upkar’

Undoubtedly one of the most popular songs in Hindi cinema, ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti’ became a household anthem of post-Independence India’s patriotism and determination to make it for the country. The track, from Manoj’s directorial debut, earned late iconic playback singer Mahendra Kapoor a National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

‘O Mera Rang De Basanti Chola’ from ‘Shaheed’

From one of the first films in Manoj’s series of patriotic films, ‘O Mera Rang De Basanti Chola’ sold to Indian youths the pride in laying your lives for the country. The song, based on a catchphrase popularised by freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, featured Manoj as Bhagat Singh, Prem Chopra as Sukhdev Thapar, and Anant Marathe as Shivaram Rajguru. Rajendra Mehta, Mahendra Kapoor, and Mukesh crooned the track. Prem Dhawan wrote the lyrics apart from composing the music.

‘Ek Pyar Ka Naghma Hai’ from ‘Shor’

Manoj playing a violin on a seashore, Jaya Bachchan running along the shore in that blue saree, and that really intriguing split-screen effect. ‘Ek Pyar Ka Naghma Hai’ is an unforgettable romance track for Hindi movie lovers. There are two versions of this song in Shor, one sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh and the other with just the male vocals. We recommend both. The song won Mukesh the National Award for Best Playback Singer, and Santosh Anand for Best Lyrics.

‘Patthar Ke Sanam’ from ‘Patthar Ke Sanam’

You can’t write this list without this evergreen, ever-haunting Mohammed Rafi classic. Remember these lines?: “Socha tha yeh badh jayegi tanhaiyan jab raaton ki. Rasta humein dikhlayegi sham-e-wafa un haathon ki. Thokar lagi tab pehchana. Patthar ke sanam tujhe humne mohabbat ka khuda jaana.” The song has lyrics written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and music by Laxmikant–Pyarelal.

‘Bharat Ka Rahnewala Hoon’ from ‘Purab Aur Paschim’

In Purab Aur Paschim, when an elderly NRI feels ashamed of the state of his homeland, Manoj Kumar belts out this evergreen song. Another Mahendra Kapoor rendition, the patriotic song had lyrics by Indeevar and music composed by Kalyanji Anandji