Shirdi Sai Baba and Manoj Kumar

We are pleased to present yet another piece by Tish Malhotra, who has been contributing to Raag Delhi regularly over the past several months. Tish, an ardent Sai devotee, had written earlier also on Shirdi Sai. You can visit here and here to read those articles. Through his articles, he has certainly enriched this platform’s discourse on society, culture, and spirituality.

Shirdi Sai Baba and Manoj Kumar

by Tish Malhotra

As all are aware, the legendary actor, writer, director, and producer Manoj Kumar sadly passed away a few weeks back, on 4th April this year, at the age of 87. Rich and befitting tributes poured in from stalwarts and celebrities across all areas, including the Indian film industry and the media. This brief article can be taken as a post-script. Hence, the delay in its preparation, submission, and appearance here.

One most important contribution that has not received much attention is Manoj Kumar's close association with the hit movie "Shirdi Ke Sai Baba," made in 1977 on the sacred life of our Lord Sainath. According to Aravind Balsubramanya, a devotee and chronicler of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, it was the legendary actor, scriptwriter, and director Manoj Kumar who presented the world with this movie, which brought Shirdi Sai to all parts of India. Manoj Kumar also acted in it.

The movie, made at the initiative of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, became a blockbuster. More importantly, it touched the hearts of millions of people around the world and spread awareness about Shirdi Sai Baba. Such was the impact of the movie that the Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan (the organization managing affairs in Shirdi) renamed the main road leading to the temple as Manoj Kumar Goswami Road and declared Manoj Kumar as the 'Architect of Modern Shirdi'! Many stalwarts (including Mohd. Rafi, Rajendra Kumar, Sudhir Dalvi, Shatrughan Sinha, and Hema Malini) and ardent devotees (including Panduranga Dixit and Anup Jalota) came together to create this movie. The story of the creation of this movie shows that immortality can be achieved only by associating with immortality-God!

The Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust also offered heartfelt tribute to Sai devotee Manoj Kumar by acknowledging his immense contribution in the making of this highly acclaimed film. He had written the screenplay of the film as well as two bhajans. One of them is the eternally famous bhajan, "Sainath Tere Hazaaron Haath." The bhajan was sung by Mohammad Rafi and Usha Mangeshkar. The peak of excellence that Rafi Sahab reached in the song can never be climbed by any other singer. Such is the greatness of the Grace that Baba bestowed on the divinely melodious singer Mohammad Rafi. The second hit bhajan that Manoj Kumar wrote for the film was “Sai Baba Bolo.” It was also sung by Mohammed Rafi, accompanied by Anuradha Paudwal, Anup Jalota, and Jani Babu. Both the bhajans were composed by Pandurang Dixit.

Thus, Manoj Kumar made a monumental contribution to the Shirdi Sai Baba movement. This stellar offering by him shall ever remain glittering distinctly among his other illustrious contributions to enriching the content of Indian cinema. It is indeed surprising why his significant association with the film on Shirdi Sai Baba was not highlighted as prominently as it deserves. Indeed, this must be reckoned as the magnum opus of Manoj Kumar, for which Sai devotees shall ever remain grateful to him, though he will no longer be with us physically.

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*A Delhi-based freelancer.