23rd March 1931: Shaheed

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23 March 1931: Shaheed
23rd March 1931 DVD cover.jpg
DVD cover
Directed by Guddu Dhanoa [1]
Written bySanjay Masoom (dialogues)
Screenplay bySutanu Gupta
Produced by Dharmendra [1]
Starring Bobby Deol
Sunny Deol
Amrita Singh
Rahul Dev
Suresh Oberoi
Vivek Shauq
Aishwariya Rai
Shakti Kapoor
Divya Dutta
Cinematography Tirru [2]
Edited byKeshav Naidu [2]
Music bySongs:
Anand Raj Anand [3]
Score:
Surinder Sodhi
Production
company
Release date
  • 7 June 2002 (2002-06-07)
Running time
185 minutes [2]
Country India
Language Hindi
Budget20 crore [4]
Box office14.25 crore [5]

23rd March 1931: Shaheed is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language historical biographical film about Bhagat Singh, directed by Guddu Dhanoa which depicts the events leading up to the hanging of Singh and his companions Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar on 23 March 1931. The film stars Bobby Deol as Singh, his elder brother Sunny Deol as Chandra Shekhar Azad and Amrita Singh in her comeback role as Vidyavati Kaur (Singh's mother).

Contents

The film's release coincided with another film based on Bhagat Singh directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and titled The Legend of Bhagat Singh . Both films failed at the box office. [6] [7] But both the films gained a cult status.

Plot

Set in the mid-1920s in British India, the film tells the story of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad, who have only one motive in mind: freedom for India. They set about doing this task together with two other men, Sukhdev and Rajguru. Bhagat Singh is enraged when his mentor Lala Lajpat Rai is mercilessly beaten to death by the police, and he sets about to avenge his death. He and his colleagues do succeed in killing one of the officials responsible, but they are identified, and as a result, Bhagat and Rajguru are arrested and held in prison, where they are tortured relentlessly.

When produced in court, they dramatically admit to the killing and claim that it was done in the name of "freedom." The judge and the public prosecutor do not see it their way, and they are sentenced to life in prison. Bhagat's mother, Vidya, comes to meet him in prison, and he goes to greet her, shackled in chains from head to toe, and he foretells that India will continue to suffer, even after independence from the British, and that he will return in another birth to free his motherland. Subsequently, all three are charged with treason and assassination and are sentenced to death.

Cast

Soundtrack

#SongSinger(s)
1"Mera Rang De Basanti Chola" Udit Narayan, Bhupinder Singh, Veer Rajinder
2"Deshnu Challo" Hans Raj Hans
3"Jogiya Ve" Alka Yagnik
4"Watanparaston Ki" Hans Raj Hans, Veer Rajinder
5"Pagadi Sambhal"Veer Rajinder
6"Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna" Bhupinder Singh, Mohammad Salamat, Vinod Rathod
7"Aye Watan"Veer Rajinder
8"Khush Raho"Veer Rajinder

Related Research Articles

Events in the year 1931 in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagat Singh</span> Indian revolutionary (1907–1931)

Bhagat Singh was an Indian anti-colonial revolutionary, who participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer in December 1928 in what was to be retaliation for the death of an Indian nationalist. He later took part in a largely symbolic bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi and a hunger strike in jail, which—on the back of sympathetic coverage in Indian-owned newspapers—turned him into a household name in the Punjab region, and after his execution at age 23 into a martyr and folk hero in Northern India. Borrowing ideas from Bolshevism and anarchism, the charismatic Singh electrified a growing militancy in India in the 1930s, and prompted urgent introspection within the Indian National Congress's nonviolent but eventually successful campaign for India's independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandra Shekhar Azad</span> Indian revolutionary (1906–1931)

Chandra Shekhar Sitaram Tiwari, popularly known as Chandra Shekhar Azad, was an Indian revolutionary who reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan. He hailed from Bardarka village in Unnao district of United Provinces and his parents were Sitaram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi. He often used the pseudonym "Balraj" while signing pamphlets issued as the commander-in-chief of the HSRA.

<i>The Legend of Bhagat Singh</i> 2002 Indian film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi

The Legend of Bhagat Singh is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language biographical period film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. The film is about Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary who fought for Indian independence along with fellow members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. It features Ajay Devgan as the titular character along with Sushant Singh, D. Santosh and Akhilendra Mishra as the other lead characters. Raj Babbar, Farida Jalal and Amrita Rao play supporting roles. The film chronicles Singh's life from his childhood where he witnesses the Jallianwala Bagh massacre until the day he was hanged to death before the official trial dated 24 March 1931.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lala Lajpat Rai</span> Indian nationalist politician and independence activist (1865–1928)

Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian revolutionary, politician, and author, popularly known as Punjab Kesari. He was one of the three members of the Lal Bal Pal trio. He died of severe head trauma injuries sustained 18 days earlier during a baton charge by police in Lahore, when he led a peaceful protest march against the British Simon Commission Indian constitutional reforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shivaram Rajguru</span> Indian independence activist ( A.d.1908– A.d.1931 )

Shivaram Hari Rajguru was an Indian independence activist from Maharashtra, known mainly for his involvement in the assassination of a British police officer named John Saunders. He was an active member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and on 23rd March 1931, he was hanged by the British government along with his associates Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sukhdev Thapar</span> Indian revolutionary (1907–1931)

Sukhdev Thapar was an Indian freedom fighter who fought against the British government for the freedom of India. He was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). He was executed along with Shivaram Rajguru and Bhagat Singh on 23 March 1931.

The Revolutionary movement for Indian Independence was part of the Indian independence movement comprising the actions of violent underground revolutionary factions. Groups believing in armed revolution against the ruling British fall into this category, as opposed to the generally peaceful civil disobedience movement spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi.

Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), previously known as the Hindustan Republican Army and Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), was a radical left-wing Indian revolutionary organization were founded by Sachindranath Sanyal - Shanyal Babu and later on it other joined. After changes of Shaheed-E Aazam Bhagat Singh's new ideology and the influence of the Russian Revolution, they held meetings in Feroz Shah Kotla Maidan and added the word socialist to their name. Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Sachindra Nath Bakshi, Sachindranath Sanyal and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee were then leaders. HRA's manifesto titled The Revolutionary and written constitution were produced as evidence in the Kakori conspiracy case of 1925.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batukeshwar Dutt</span> Indian revolutionary (1910–1965)

Batukeshwar Dutt was an Indian socialist and independence fighter in the early 1900s. He is best known for having exploded two bombs, along with Bhagat Singh, in the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi on 8 April 1929. After they were arrested, tried and imprisoned for life, he and Singh initiated a historic hunger strike protesting against the abusive treatment of Indian political prisoners, and eventually secured some rights for them. He was also a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.

<i>Shaheed</i> (1965 film) Indian patriotic film of 1965 directed by S. Ram Sharma

Shaheed (transl. Martyr) is a 1965 patriotic film directed by S. Ram Sharma, produced by Kewal Kashyap and starring Manoj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal and Pran in lead roles. Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri and Anwar Hussain star in supporting roles. It is based on the life of Bhagat Singh. The music was composed by Prem Dhawan, with several songs being penned by freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil. Shaheed was the first of Manoj Kumar's series of patriotic films, followed by the likes of Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kranti (1981).

Martyrs' Day are days declared in India to honour recognised martyrs of the nation.

Shaahed-E-Azam is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language biographical film directed by Sukumar Nair. The film was released on 31 May 2002. The film, based upon the life of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, caused some controversy as the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a notice to the producers calling for a ban of the movie. In the same year, two other movies on Singh were also released, named 23rd March 1931: Shaheed and The Legend of Bhagat Singh.

Durgavati Devi, popularly known as Durga Bhabhi, was an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter. She was one of the few women revolutionaries who actively participated in armed revolution against the ruling British Raj. She is best known for having accompanied Bhagat Singh on the train journey in which he made his escape in disguise after the killing of John P. Saunders. Since she was the wife of another Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) member Bhagwati Charan Vohra, other members of HSRA referred to her as Bhabhi and became popular as "Durga Bhabhi" in Indian revolutionary circles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagwati Charan Vohra</span> Indian revolutionary (1903–1930)

Bhagwati Charan Vohra was an Indian revolutionary, associated with Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He was an ideologue, organiser, orator and campaigner.

Guddu Dhanoa is an Indian writer, producer and director. He is mainly known for making Hindi films. He directed several action films, most notably Ziddi, starring Sunny Deol, and Bichhoo, starring Bobby Deol.

<i>Chandrashekhar</i> (TV series) Indian film

Chandrashekhar is an Indian historical drama and biopic television series based on the life on a freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad. It premiered on 12 March 2018 on Star Bharat and is produced by Anirudh Pathak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiv Verma</span> Member of Hindustan Socialist Republic Army

Shiv Verma was an Indian Marxist revolutionary and a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.

Hans Raj Vohra was an approver for British in HSRA, providing testimony for the British that identified his associates in return for his own freedom. In May 1930, his statement against Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru, in the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial, became "crucial" in leading to passing of their death sentence.

References

  1. 1 2 "rediff.com, Movies: 23 March 1931 -- Shaheed -- The Story In Pictures". www.rediff.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Elley, Derek (28 June 2002). "The Legend of Bhagat Singh / 23rd March 1931: Shaheed".
  3. "BBC - Shropshire - Movies - 23rd March 1931- Shaheed". www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. "23rd March 1931 Shaheed - Movie - Box Office India".
  5. "23rd March 1931 Shaheed - Movie - Box Office India".
  6. "rediff.com: Movies: Which Bhagat Singh do we choose?". rediff.com.
  7. "At the movies: The Legend of Bhagat Singh". The Times of India. 8 June 2002.