Page 57 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

ndia has been frequently targeted have touched upon the impact of terror- bombers in Pakistan. Rajkummar Rao,
by foreign terrorist attacks for more ism on the lives of people in films like the finest actor that India has today, plays
than a decade, costing us lives and Dil Se, which looks at the life of a suicide Saeed Sheikh with a touch of the diabolic
bringing in shock and fear amongst bomber. Ratnam did approach an insur- sophisticate. He is brilliant, and has called
I common people. For a democracy gent’s character with depth and layers in his much-applauded role “the toughest
that has sustained in a vitiated political Roja, where Pankaj Kapur promises to that I have done so far.” Omerta, while
neighborhood where military juntas, reform himself in the end. Then there’s incomplete in exploration of what made
army controlled governments and dic- Aamir by Rajkumar Gupta, a gripping Omar Saeed such a fanatic, is an engag-
tatorshipsc continue to rule, attacks on portrayal of a man forced to turn a sui- ing portrayal of what makes a master ter-
Indian soil spell more than just hostility cide bomber, touching but politically pas- rorist, brick by brick. Mehta has utilized
over a stretch of land in Kashmir. They at- sive. Nikhil Advani tackled homegrown background information from media
tack a way of life and a thought process of terror and crime in D Day, which a filmy coverage to write out a chilling portrayal
tolerance and enterprise. ending to the Dawood Ibrahim story that of Omar Saeed Sheikh.
Yet, in the world of Hindi cinema, you completely pandered to the front rows. Like Mehta, debutante director
would be hard pressed to find too many As cinema is changing swiftly across Aditya Dhar has found his inspiration
films that actually tell stories of terror- the mainstream in India, adapting to re- in the 2016 Uri attacks by the Indian
ism as it is. Often terrorism or terror- ality has slowly become a necessity for Defence forces. This film takes the route of Indian origin. A Kashmiri college Commercial for a decade. Bharadwaj’s razor sharp
ists become a backdrop to hyperbole filmmakers. Some that have complained of a thriller, focusing on the bravery and student takes on the mantle of passing interests and writing holds promise of blowing the
and melodrama. Gun totting maniacs about not getting funds or a suitable strategic brilliance of the Indian Army on crucial intelligence about Pakistani lid off Pakistan’s betrayals of interna-
are tagged as the bad guys, and made producer to back films based in reality in selectively attacking terror camps Army sponsored operations to the the pressure to tional opinion and heinous strategy.
Indian Army; the book draws from real play it safe, to be It also brings the story as it played out
from inside the complex where Osama
life incidents. In this film, Alia Bhatt, a
Films on terrorism build popular young star today, is married politically neutral, was kept under strict protection.
Nikhil Advani, whose D Day took a
to the son of a Pakistani Army general,
come in the way of
filmy turn and adaptation of the first
having access to important informa-
on Indian realities today tion. Raazi is eagerly awaited for it’s true films attempting to season of Homeland as Prisoners of War
for Hotstar India didn’t quite win audi-
to life, gripping story.
tell gritty, reality
What these films establish is the fact
ences, has pledged to make a film on the
that despite a random Censor Board,
focus on what really happened inside
that has a legacy of hacking off words, based stories about Batla House encounter. Advani will also
There are not too many Bollywood films that actually tell stories of terrorism as it is. Most of sentences, dialogues and scenes to keep terrorism this building before and during the en-
counter with security forces. He wants
Indians ‘protected’, filmmakers and
them don’t go beyond the surface level, never approaching subjects centered on terrorism with a producers are treading into politically to look at whether those brands terror-
research-based approach, archita kashyap points out volatile and sometimes, controversial interventions, and aggressive anti- ists here, could have just been students.
territory. They will focus on the patri- terrorism measures. Similarly, Vishal Filmmakers with experience and
otism trump card to make their films Bharadwaj, a filmmaker that has with dedicated teams working on writ-
viable no doubt. Even so, that they will addressed typical Indian stories with ing and research for films that adapt
into villains. Most films don’t go beyond are finally getting opportunities to pre- across the Pakistan border. In retalia- make films adapted from real incidents universal flair, is currently in the pro- real life terrorism is a positive sign for
the surface level, never approaching sent those stories that they have always tion of a series of bloody attacks on the involving the Indian Defence forces, cess of adapting The Exile, a book by Hindi cinema. Films have to become
subjects centered on terrorism with a wanted to tell. Defence forces by Pakistani terrorists, diplomacy and the complex politics of Kathy Scott Clark and Adrian Levy. oriented towards our reality for them
research-based approach. A filmmaker Omerta, by Hansal Mehta, is one of Dhar has written this film based entirely Kashmir, is a positive start. Bharadwaj will focus on the story to remain relevant to a 18 to 35 audi-
might begin looking at terrorism or in- the best examples of such films. Set to on media reports and conversations In Hollywood and international before USA seriously hunkered down to ence that has a large number of options
surgency with noble intent, but as they release this April (20 April), the film is a with military experts. The talented young cinema, recent US armed interven- find Osama Bin Laden. Based on thor- on streaming platforms and from Hol-
begin the process of making a film, the gripping thriller centered on the life of actor Vicky Kaushal will act in it, and tions in Iraq and Afghanistan have in- ough research, and exceptionally well lywood. Besides, these stories reflect
end result often gets diluted. Authen- Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British born Paki- Ronnie Screwvala will produce it under spired brilliant films and TV series. Be it thought out analysis, Scott Clark and the evolution of India as a nation, and
tic research and writing based on such stani terrorist. Saeed has wreaked havoc his new company, RSVP. With bright the Oscar nominated films Zero Dark Levy detail how Bin Laden was evacu- the crucial role that our defence forces
research are sorely lacking. on Indian soil and also masterminded young actors like Yami Gautam and Kriti Thirty about the hunt for Osama Bin ated from Tora Bora in Afghanistan just play in keeping us safe. They can be ed-
Commercial interests and the pres- some of the most high profile terrorist Kulhari joining it’s cast, Uri promises Laden, or The Hurt Locker, and American thirty feet before US troops were ready ucative and reflective. One hopes, that
sure to play it safe, to be politically neu- attacks in recent memory. Be it the blood to be a slick, engaging film about a key Sniper, The Green Line etc, Hollywood to capture him. It looks at the special with so many filmmakers attempting
tral, come in the way of films attempting thirsty assassination of journalist Daniel military operation that was carried quite has taken a tough look at America’s hidden place Bin Laden was given, and such content, we get to see some truly
to tell gritty, reality based stories about Pearl, or funding the 9/11 attacks, Omar, recently. Its currency makes the film a terror policy. Criticism and analysis explore the link between the terror at- engaging and quality films around ter-
terrorism. What you get is a melodra- an educated and polished British man, hook for young audiences too. are part of their story telling. With tack on the Indian parliament to Osama rorism and it’s damaging consequenc-
matic Misson Kashmir, inadequate in its was behind these chilling incidents. He In May, director Meghna Gulzar’s recent shows like The Looming Tower, Bin Laden. It also takes a critical look at es, that also connect with India’s mass
background research and yet, made by was also integral to recruitment and Raazi will release. Based on the book or Homeland, American TV continues Pakistani ISI strategy to keep Osama audiences.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra, a Kashmiri Pandit. training of Western and local youth for Calling Sehmat by Harinder Sikka, this to take a critical, reality driven angle hidden as that ensured inflow of more
Otherwise, filmmakers like Mani Ratnam terror camps, and part of training suicide film tells the story of a young female spy to their government’s role in military than a billion US dollars of aid money letters@tehelka.com

tehelka / 15 may 2018 56 www.tehelka.com tehelka / 15 may 2018 57 www.tehelka.com

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