Sunny Deol on the challenge of Batwara 1947 'humanising' Pakistanis in today's political climate: 'Mahaul ka nahi socha'
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Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi and star Sunny Deol are reuniting after almost two decades in the soon-to-release period drama, Batwara 1947. Set around the Partition, the movie tells the story of a Muhajir family in Lahore who protect an ageing Hindu woman. On Tuesday, Santoshi and the movie’s stars - Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta - interacted with the media about the movie’s tone, story, and their roles.
Adding to this, Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta in a still from Batwara 1947. Rajkumar Santoshi on the humanity of Batwara 1947 In today’s climate, it is considered increasingly risky or difficult to show neutrality or parity. Films are avoiding showing humanity across the border. When HT asked Santoshi why he chose this narrative in a polarised political climate, the director shared it was never about the messaging. “The story needs to be engaging, entertaining, and leave some emotional things in the mind (of the audience). We don’t like to message. The medium is different for those who are making films for messaging,” says the filmmaker.
Meanwhile, Santoshi adds that the crux of the story is human courage and will, not the divide between people. “This is an emotional story. What will stay with you are the characters. The story doesn’t see Hindu or Muslim. The characters see human beings. Ek insaan ke saath ek ghatna hoti hai aur insaan kis tarah se kya karta hai (Something occurs with a human being and how other human beings rally together), that is the story. Toh ek message nahi de raha hoon main. Teacher thode hi hoon (I am not giving a message, I am not a teacher). The movie should be good, and people should enjoy it,” he adds.
Notably, Batwara 1947 is based on Asghar Wajahat’s book Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya O Jamyai Nai, which takes a human approach to retelling the atrocities of the Partition. In most cross-border stories these days, filmmakers take a side, sharply drawing lines between the protagonist and antagonist. But Batwara 1947 takes the middle road, almost, showing humanity in people. However, Sunny Deol says it wasn’t a planned call, but just how the story flows. “It’s a story that Raj (director Rajkumar Santoshi) is telling. That’s a story that we have brought. And the characters that exist within are being portrayed. It is not like we are trying to neutralise it. It is how the characters are written,” says the star.
As per the latest buzz, For Sunny, what matters about the movie is how it makes the audience feel. “When you see the movie, you will forget what it is. You will be so involved in the cinema that you will come out happy and satisfied. It will make you realise what the Partition was. And how important it is to stand by yourself against all the odds. But it is not ki hum isko thoda aise rakhein ya isko thoda aise rakhein. Woh jo subject hai wahi hum banayenge. Usko badal toh nahi sakte. (It is not as if we tried to keep it this way or that way. We will make what the subject is. We can’t change that),” he explains.
In further updates, But a movie that portrays Pakistani people as simply people and not villains is rare in Hindi cinema these days. When asked if this element of Batwara 1947 will make it a worthwhile watch in Pakistan, Sunny says, “We never thought of that way. I heard this story from Raj in 2010, and we have been wanting to make it since then. When you talk about the political climate, humne mahaul ke baare mein kabhi nahi socha. Hum toh kahani bana rahe hain. Hamare dimaag me koi khot nahi hai (we never thought about the climate, just told our story. There is no malice in our hearts).”
On top of that, Preity Zinta, making her comeback to the big screen after seven years, adds, “For me too, it’s not about ki udhar kya ho raha hai, idhar kya ho raha hai? It’s about humare ghar mein kya ho raha hai? And when world events happen, when things happen anywhere, you know, you don’t look at it. When you are going through a situation, your first instinct is my family and me.”
In Batwara 1947, Sunny Deol plays a Muslim man who migrates to Pakistan during the Partition. However, he discovers a Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, living upstairs in his home, who refuses to leave. He takes it upon himself to protect her while also ensuring his family's safety amid the chaos.
Source: Hindustan Times