His first film director Manoj Kumar, before that 10 years successfully starred in the films of other directors, forever entered his name in the “golden fund” of Indian cinema. For me, the most important thing is that the film, made almost 50 years ago and addressed primarily to its compatriots, is fully relevant in modern Russia.
Like all subsequent films by this talented actor and director, Upkar is devoid of false experiences. Everything is real, everything is vital, but at the same time it is devoid of savoring the negative and filled with great life optimism. Fully remaining within the framework and traditions of Indian cinema, Manoj Kumar immediately transforms his face, introducing a patriotic stream into it. In general, when I watch the films of this director, I have no feeling that this is about some foreign people, that this is a completely different country, people who are strangers to us, and in general, all this does not concern us. It's all about it!
It was this film that I managed to get through not immediately, but only on the second try. Although there is nothing complicated in the film, all the basic truths, old as the world, but no less important. There is not even unrequited love. (the suffering of Prem Chopra’s character can be described as wounded self-love, but nothing more). There is love and it is happy and quickly becomes mutual.
Perhaps one of the main reasons why I only appreciated this film for the second time is that it is not available in Russian. I was able to find only an option with English subtitles, which is somewhat difficult to understand and partly distracts from the play of wonderful actors.
In this film, I especially want to celebrate the performance of actor Madan Puri. I just want to ask, is that how he did it? In the movie “Upkar” (I don’t know what it means, this word is not translated anywhere), he plays an absolutely hardened criminal, on whom, as they say, there is no place to put the stigma. The underside of the acting is not visible at all, there is a complete identification with the actor, you really want to nail him with something heavy or strangle him. By the way, I note that before in the films of other directors, Madan Puri quite often played unpleasant types, but in such a disgusting role I saw him for the first time.
Right after Upkar, I watched Manoj Kumar’s East and West. There Madan Puri, on the contrary, plays the role of the future father-in-law of the main character. In the process of the film, in general, you will be happy for the main character that he has such an understanding father of the bride. And also plays so that there is absolutely no doubt that this is what he is, and his hero, despite some of his weakness, evokes only the warmest feelings. Such a real acting skill, the art of reincarnation cannot but cause admiration!
The song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" is great. See, enjoy the external and internal beauty of the heroes Asha Parekh and Manoja Kumar, and think, is not all this filmed about us?
10 out of 10