Sagars - father and sons - have quietly
completed their film unfazed by the
others' fanfare and are set to release
it now.
Ramanand Sagar recalls having witnessed
the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh when he
was just a 16-year-old lad. Having lived
through those turbulent days he is perhaps
the only film-maker 'who can recreate
the saga' of the great revolutionary
on silver screen 'with authenticity
and passion'.
For the protagonist's role he has chosen
Deepak Dutta, a Delhi graduate in commerce
from Dyal Singh college. After doing
theatre in Delhi as a member of the
Lok Natya Manch, he shifted to Mumbai
and started teaching at Roshan Taneja's
school. For Deepak it's a 'spiritual
break' as he calls his selection for
the role. "For shooting for the film
I saw him, experienced him", he has
said. he even delayed his marriage to
complete the film.
Made under the banner of Sagar Entertainment
Ltd., the film has been directed by
Anand Sagar. Ravindra Jain has composed
the music.
Ramanand
Sagar's note on the making of 'Bhagat
Singh':
"
I had just entered my teens (fourteen)
when the great moment took place - the
martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh -
the effect was electrifying on the youth
- it changed the scale of freedom and
slavery.
"
Ever since that most impressionable
age - I have lived with his burden to
project to mankind of what stuff these
Krantikaris were made of - the beautiful
steel mind they had - where the most
gruesome torture by the British seemed
trifle - where they embraced death like
a bride.
"In
my humble film 'Bhagat Singh' - dedicated
by me to all such martyrs - I have tried
to paint a picture of one such mind
- the iron mind of Bhagat Singh who
at a college annual day asks us to forget
the great romances of Heers and Ranjhas
and drink this cup of blood - who passes
the test of a true revolutionary by
letting the flesh melt from under his
hand placed above a candle - with a
smile on his face and freedom for motherland
in his heart.
"
Bhagat Singh who wakes up the mighty
British empire - with his fiery speech
on freedom and liberty as his birthright.
"
Bhagat Singh, who puts the British imperialism
on fire by killing the man who lathi-charged
with animal passion and killed a peace
apostle like Lala Lajpat Rai by throwing
bombs in the assembly and getting himself
arrested - and by the supreme sacrifice
of kissing the gallows and wearing the
crown and halo of a martyr - a desh
bhakt.
"
I wanted to make a honest film. I did
not want to be dictated by economic
pressures and thus dilute the content,
ie, the essence of Bhagat Singh, a true
revolutionary without fear of death
- with no family bondages and a will
to romance - I have tried to make an
honest film with my personal resources
whereby the recovery does not dominate
and govern the content.
"
Why have I a low profile with the release
of this very subjective work of mine?
I want to ignite only a spark in today's
lost youth and let the fire grow and
roar: let the flames of patriotism leap
sky high.
"Why have I worked with actors
and not stars? Because I want people
to remember and immortalise Bhagat Singh
in true flesh and blood like in my earlier
works, Ram in Ramayan and Krishna, who
were unknown faces and will live for
centuries in their original true form
as Avtars of Lord Vishnu.
"
I want 'Bhagat Singh' to come as an
iceberg - silent - deep - a hidden mountain
which can knock down a titanic."
-by
Our Film Critic
August 31, 2002
