http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/prakash-jha-aarakshan-faces-trouble/1/146752.html
Prakash Jha's Aarakshan faces trouble on all sides
Headlines Today Bureau | Mumbai/New Delhi, August 1, 2011 | Updated 20:34 IST
Like majority of Jha films, Aarakshan takes on issues of the society
and political affairs of India.
It is a film on one of India's most controversial subjects. No wonder
then that it has run into some controversy itself. Prakash Jha 's
latest film Aarakshan was first panned by Dalit groups even before its
release for being anti-Dalit and now the upper caste groups in
Rajasthan have threatened to stall its release as they believe it
shows them in a poor light.
Saif Ali Khan's portrayal as a Dalit student leader in the upcoming
film has ruffled many a political feather. The film's promos have
frayed tempers across the country, with Jaipur being the latest to
launch a protest. Posters were burnt and threats were issued against
the screening of the film by a pressure group called Karni Sena.
Protesters have reservations on the portrayal of Dalits in the film.
National Commission for Scheduled Caste chairman P.L. Punia says, "We
were the first to oppose it. I hope others will join us."
This is not the first time the film has seen objections raised against
it. Several Maharashtra politicians are also anti-Aarakshan, demanding
special screening of the film ahead of its release.
Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athavale says his party will
not allow the screening of the film if it's anti-reservation.
"Aarakshan will bring law and order problem. We have raised the issue
with the home minister," says NCP MLA Jeetendra Avadh.
Used to courting controversies, the director of the film, Prakash Jha,
remains unfazed. "The nine-member panel, which saw the movie,
congratulated me," Jha told Headlines Today, adding, "I want people to
call me and point out a single anti-Dalit sentence from the promo."
With no one actually having seen the film - posters already burnt,
tempers mightily frayed and with emotions running wild - it will only
be the unreserved release of Aarakshan that may douse the fire of
controversy.
Aarakshan the film
Prakash Jha's films are known to be hard hitting with strong
socio-political themes.
Aarakshan is based on the controversial topic of caste-based
reservation in educational institutions.
With a formidable caste of Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika
Padukone, this film too promises to be a high-voltage drama.
"This (reservation) was something that was of great interest to me. I
kept watching it and observing it and kept seeing the drama unfold and
all the repercussions - the commercialisation of education," says Jha.
Amitabh Bachchan plays Prabhakar Anand, an upright, idealistic
principal of an institution caught in the debate between reservation
and merit.
"There is a whole section of our nationals, who do not have the
resources to get higher education. What goes through their mind and
how they deal with this situation. Here is an erudite head of
institution, who thinks about that and wants that equal opportunity be
given to them and they should be allowed to rise according to their
merit," says Bachchan.
Anand is challenged by one his own loyal students, Deepak Kumar,
played by Saif Ali Khan. Saif is cast in the role of a Dalit, who is
fighting for his rights.
In the high-votage, socio-political drama, there is Nikhilesh Singh,
played by Manoj Bajpayee, who depicts how education is used as a
medium to make money.
The film also stars Prateik Babbar and Deepika Padukone.
"I am torn between the character that Saif is playing and my father,"
says Padukone.
Like majority of Jha's films, Aarakshan takes on issues about the
society and political affairs of India. The film releases on August
12.
Jha courts controversy
The drape of the cotton saree, the signature wave to the crowds, the
ponytail - Katrina Kaif's character in Prakash Jha's Raajneeti seemed
inspired by the grand old party's chief Sonia Gandhi.
But that was not the only controversial point of the film. The word
widow was removed from a dialogue to be replaced by bitiya or
daughter.
The film was released only after a super censor team comprising three
members from the Congress suggested changes and they were
incorporated.
So, what is it about Prakash Jha, his socio-political potboilers and
the ensuing politics of controversy?
Earlier, Jha's Gangajal had invoked the ire of RJD chief Laloo Prasad
Yadav's brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav, since the villain in his film bore
the same name.
Only when the real-life legislator of Bihar, Sadhu Yadav with several
crimes to his name viewed the film that the virtual ban on Gangajal
was finally lifted.
The movie was based on the two-decade old notorious 'Bhagalpur
blinding' case, in which cops had poured acid into the eyes of
criminals. The acid soon came to be referred to as Gangajal locally.
So, has Jha been cleverly using the bad press to his advantage,
garnering maximum, pre-release mileage for his movies?
Jha made his debut as a director with Hip Hip Hurray in 1983. In his
next award winning venture Damul, Jha focussed on caste conflicts in
rural Bihar. From Damul to Apaharan, Shool and now Aarakshan,
socio-political thrillers have almost become a Prakash Jha trademark.
The helplessness of the aam aadmi in the face of various permutations
of neta-mafia-criminal nexus, corruption making inroads in the
judiciary, feudal oppression, caste politics - Jha has captured it all
on celluloid.
A filmmaker's choice of subject is a reflection of his own beliefs. In
the case of Jha, it may have to do with his aspirations. Because
having fought and lost two Lok Sabha elections, the celluloid screen
still remains his chosen canvas of expression.
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