Prakash Jha’s directorial take

The director in an exclusive talk to Lipika Varma

“‘Satyagraha’ matlab protest it also represents independence; ‘Satta Ki Laddayi’; Gandhiji’s fight was based on non violence.”

“From time to time ‘Satyagraha’ has been organized to break the existing rule. While bringing about a change during the British rule too we had to correspond with the then existing English rulers to bring forth our point of view. Actually, no one can bring about changes unless it is put forth within the Government premise. Anna Hazare’s Lokpal movement took off with great spirits but it failed to procure their norms simply because they followed autocratically, for them it was ‘My way or High way.’ They just brought about the visible scams that were happening in our country. Also without taking it forward within the legal premise they wanted to take the strings of passing the judgment by themselves. This is where they went wrong. Also their movement could not reach any conclusion. The movement lacking any perfect ideology brought down all their hopes and they turned unsuccessful.”

“Many people are presuming my films to be based on Anna Hazare’s Lokpal theme. Let me clarify is movement is declared a failure and I will not profess a failed movement at all.”

“Gandhian philosophy was successful merely because he gathered to gather each and every community who moved along with supporting his philosophy. His movement was articulate political movement. Under his leadership the movement was specifically important for bringing about a change in the right way. The intervening of the English rule was made a must. While Anna Hazare’s movement became a non elected political entity thus the first time at Ramlila Maidan they started facing a defeat. The scams they brought forward and they wanted to put concerning people in Jail. However, this could be only possible with the proper intervention of the ruling Government, which did not happen.”

“In my film, there is no Violence (‘Heensa’). Infact in ‘Satyagraha’, you will see a ray where in the youth join hands through the social media also through the media. Now a day’s within a short span of just five minutes all the youth come together on the same platform to fight a genuine cause. Our new generation is not dependent on cast, creed or religion. They only take a call for obtaining justice against atrocities caused to anyone. The youth of today is educated and are moving ahead onto a new lifestyle where they are ready to face the cost and consequences without an iota of fear. All in all the cause needs to be based on genuine facts.”

“The latest ‘lathi’ charge on various platforms, I just feel if Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dikshit and Mayawati could come on these platforms and give assurances to the revolting youth. This would have helped these political leaders gain their confidence as they have been fighting for some important causes. But these political leaders did not give the youth a second thought. Gone are the days when the youth of our generation depended on their Govt totally. Our generation would look for BPO jobs or some government official jobs they trusted their leaders blindly wherein the youth of today has realized their importance and they demand an explanation from all these elected leaders and that is what is depicted in my film.”

“With the connection to the talk with the political leaders that has to bring in the change in near future. So the protest, the talk and the action is ‘Satyagraha.’”

“The youth of today will fight for the electricity for villages being deprived of it. They will question about the potholes on the roads existing for years now. The government will be forced to recognize and part with their duties judiciously. However, to certain extent the government has foreseen this and therefore they have given away their duties to private sectors in order to make the people feel secured, for example the electricity, transportation and many other sectors partly has been privatized. Well, I have tried to bring certain issues through my film ‘Satyagraha.’”

“At the moment I am not keen on making a film on Durga Shakti Andolan. I may think of it at a later stage. In any case, at this moment, the issue is half baked so in any which way I cannot think about it.”

“I had told Arjun Rampal five years before casting him in ‘Rajneeti’ that I am keen on casting him. I feel he has his own ways of fulfilling the challenges on par with the character he is given. I just add to whatever he already possesses. Many directors may have not tapped it.”

“By no means I feel my films are not glamorous and commercial. I have full to action dance etc. I also care for good music in my films. Also on choosing Kareena Kapoor I feel she suited the character.”

“On my sets all my actors are disciplined they all come on time and put in their best on par with their performances. I do not have to remind them about their duties. Yes I have around 50 to 52 assistant directors merely because it becomes very difficult to control a huge crowd of almost 150.”

“I have been constantly shooting in Bhopal because I like the crowd out there. They are so adjusting.I ask them to push to certain point while I begin to shoot and surprisingly they do so within just five minutes. They are just not unruly. Their love and affection always encourages me to shot my films in Bhopal also I get the full support of the authorities.”