New Delhi: Cinema never was a prime time hobby in my student days. The city of Srinagar in the Valley didn’t afford many cinema halls and affording a ticket as a student was even more challenging. Therefore, when ‘Kranti’ was released to much anticipation, getting an entry into the hall was no less than a true luxury.

A few friends summoned courage to engage with agents selling black tickets and after much negotiation finally got through. It was the first sighting of a mega blockbuster. But the big takeaway was the thunderous applause for the plot led by Manoj Kumar, who championed himself as the true son of ‘Bharat’ out there to avenge the British and make a bold patriotic statement. The movie acquired cult status apart from being a Silver Jubilee hit marking its popularity across geographies. That Kashmir endorsed ‘Bharat Kumar’ showcased the director’s unique appeal.

This wasn’t my first exposure to the genius of Kumar. In early days of DD weekly movie release, ‘Upkar’, a landmark cinematic statement, introduced me to the legend. My father prepped me for the big evening as if it was the biggest lesson he wanted me and my siblings to attend. For him, it wasn’t a movie but an unrivalled sentiment to soak in the art of........

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