Revolutionary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death by the British regime on 23 March 1931. As a mark of respect to them, the day is recognised as a Martyrs’ Day.

Manoj Kumar’s classic inspirational biographical film Shaheed (1965) is a befitting tribute to the freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandrasekhar Azad (the latter died on 27 February, 1931).

The National Award winning film credits Kewal P Kashyap as the producer and S Ram Sharma (i.e. Sitaram Sharma) as the director though it is widely known that it was 

produced and presented by Manoj Kumar himself. It is believed that he didn’t want to lend his name as producer — director fearing that the failure of the film would affect his acting career.

Shaheed was a moving film on the enthusiastic devotion and intense patriotism for the country and made with the same zeal and zest and raw authenticity. The characters did not merely play their roles as actors but lived the purpose of the ‘freedom terrorists’ who laid their lives for the country’s freedom. 

The film had a huge ensemble of male actors ranging from veteran character actors like Pran, Sapru, Karan Dewan, Chaman Puri, Madan Puri, Anwar Husain, Asit Sen, Krishan Dhawan, Kamal Kapoor, Iftikhar to Manoj Kumar (as the charismatic socialist turned revolutionary Bhagat Singh), Anant Marathe (of ‘Ik raat mein do do chand’ and ‘Tadpaoge tadpaalo’ fame) and Shailesh Kumar; 

actors who were seen generally as villains like Prem Chopra, Manmohan, Sudhir in positive roles as the brothers in arms of Bhagat Singh and a few nondescript but known faces. A pleasant surprise was the lyricist — composer Prem Dhawan playing a cameo role. Kamini Kaushal (as the mother of Bhagat Singh), Nirupa Roy and Indrani Mukherji filled the female cast. 

Shaheed had some well written and 

memorable songs with patriotic feel and fervour without being jingoistic or nationalistic; Pagdi sambhaal jatta, Mera rang de basanti chola, Ae watan, ae watan, humko teri 

qasam and Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai (the last mentioned written by Syed Shah Mohammed Hasan aka Bismil Azimabadi).

As is well known, Lal Bahadur Shastri came to watch the movie for ten minutes and, such was the impact of the film that he ended up experiencing the full film. 

He took a promise from Manoj Kumar to make another film on the contribution of the jawans and kisans (the soldiers and farmers) which took the form of the story of Upkar which he wrote during his journey back to Bombay from Delhi by train. 

Shaheed, the flag waving film, with its cultural nuances and secularist spirit, had several passionate moments of patriotic and partisan sentiments which leave you feeling inspired and motivated, hopeful and optimistic. At the same time, it engenders a sense of self directed resentment and remorse for not being a martyr (shaheed) yourself.