Ujjwal Nikam says Prahaar 'shows what actually happened' in Kasab's trial after 26/11: 'No sensationalisation'
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
A new movie on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks - Prahaar - is set to rollout on October 16. The Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi starrer is based on the life of veteran public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam , who is also a Rajya Sabha member of Parliament, and the court proceedings of the trial which ultimately led to the hanging of the lone captured terrorist, Ajmal Kasab.
Adding to this, Former public prosecutor and Rajya Sabha MP Ujwal Nikam with Rajkummar Rao during the trailer launch of movie Prahaar at CSMT in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, September 29. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo) In an interview with HT, Nikam revisited the landmark case and shared that the trial against Ajmal Kasab was not against one terrorist, but a legal battle against Pakistan. Excerpts from the interview:
Meanwhile, Nikam: It is essentially a movie about the court proceedings. You won’t see any sensationalisation of a character. Two and a half years of research went into the movie including the story and what was shared during the court proceedings. It will show what actually happened in the courtroom and how we dealt with the challenges during the trial. The director, Avinash Arun, also heard the arguments in court and later discussed the material with star Rajkummar Rao (who is playing Nikam’s character). To ensure authenticity, real names have been used including that of the judge. I believe that this movie can send a message that we should not give a communal angle to such terror attacks.
Notably, Nikam: It is entirely based on the court proceedings and arguments from both sides during the trial. There is no dramatisation. The makers even researched how I walk and talk.
As per the latest buzz, Nikam: I am asked this question often. We have to understand that this was not a trial against Kasab alone. A total of 10 terrorists were sent from across the border to target Mumbai and its innocent citizens. They were all one group and it was a trial against all of them. In a way, it was a legal battle against Pakistan because through evidence, we established a state-backed larger conspiracy. The challenges faced were Kasab’s repeated lies. He would claim that he was a minor or that he was given poison. He also tried to disassociate himself from the group of 10 terrorists, saying Abu Ismail had done everything. Our job was to primarily discredit all his falsehoods and establish the truth. Data was retrieved with the help of an FBI laboratory. The police worked round-the-clock to bring evidence against Kasab and Pakistan.
In further updates, The trial in the 26/11 attacks started on May 6, 2009 and exactly a year later - on May 6, 2010—the sessions court awarded the death penalty to Kasab. Our constitutional processes allow an accused to appeal in higher courts. He first appealed to the Bombay high court, which decided on the appeal in May 2011 and then the Supreme Court also upheld the court’s decision in September 2012. So, when we say that the trial took time, we should understand the complexity of the case as every piece of evidence had to withstand scrutiny at different stages.
On top of that, Nikam: Kasab never demanded biryani, nor was it served. The larger problem was that the focus had shifted to Kasab instead of the victims so we had to change that atmosphere. Our aim was that people talk about the victims, who lost their lives.
Nikam: Not at all. I have previously handled the trial for the 1993 Mumbai blasts, the murder of Gulshan Kumar and others. Kasab’s trial has nothing to do with me entering politics. I was requested to enter the Rajya Sabha and was then nominated by the President. The two things are not linked. The two things are not linked.
Source: Hindustan Times