Page 40 - The Indian EYE 031524

ENTERTAINMENT EYE MARCH 15, 2024 | The Indian Eye 40

After the humongous success of

‘The Kerala Story’, the makers now tell

the real story of Naxals in ‘Bastar’

Vipul Shah and Sudipto Sen’s first collaboration ‘The Kerala Story’ emerged as one

of the most successful films at the box office in 2023 so far

OUR BUREAU happening in one part of the country.
I felt that it was essential to bring this
Mumbai/Srinagar
issue before the people.”
akers of the upcoming dra- Director Sudipto Sen has shared
ma film ‘Bastar- The Naxal what inspired him to bring the dra-
MStory’ starring Adah Shar- ma film ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’,
ma unveiled the film’s official trail- starring Adah Sharma after ‘Kerala
er on Tuesday. Taking to Instagram, Story’. Speaking about the movie,
Adah Sharma treated fans with the Sudipto Sen said that cinema has spo-
trailer video and captioned it, “15th radically played a role in transform-
March 2024. Prepare for the raw ing society but it has never become a
truth to hit hard. Bastar: The Naxal movement. “Historically the cinema
Story trailer is out now, shedding light should have played its role but I feel
on the path to a Naxal-free Bharat. that it has taken a step back from the
Watch now.” actual role that it should have played,
In the trailer, Adah can be seen common people were taught a wrong
as IPS Officer Neerja Madhvan, who definition of entertainment. Cinema
is determined to make India Nax- has played the role of transforming
al-free. There is footage of Naxalites society. In our country, it has hap-
attacking CRPF Jawans, alongside pened sporadically but it never be-
scenes depicting JNU students cel- came a movement. When we go to
ebrating their deaths. From grim watch cinema, we watch dance, hear
sequences of individuals singing songs and come back. But we never
the National Anthem while engag- explored it values of creating aware-
ing in horrific acts of violence, to ness. This was the experimentation
heart-wrenching scenes of children of Vipul (Vipul Amrutlal Shah) and
being burnt and political figures be- me to make a film on the reality of
ing assassinated, as well as the hang- the country. ‘Kerala Story’ and ‘Bas-
ing of innocent people, this trailer tar’ are results of that.”
leaves an impact. Speaking about the movie, Adah
From sequences of individuals Sharma said “if you are doing such a
singing the National Anthem while film, you have to trust your makers”.
engaging in horrific acts of violence, “There was 110 per cent trust
to heart-wrenching scenes of chil- (in the story). I don’t think you
dren being burnt and political figures should do such films if you become
being assassinated, as well as the Bollywood actress Adah Sharma along with director Sudipto Sen speaks during doubtful of the makers somewhere
hanging of innocent people. a press conference (ANI File Photo) in the middle because it then shows
in your performance. I read a lot of
Vipul Shah launched the trailer material that Dada (director Sudip-
Shah and Sudipto’s first collab- with complete truth and honesty. to Sen) had shared with me. I even
of ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’ at oration ‘The Kerala Story’ emerged When Dada (director Sudipto Sen) went there (Bastar). Dada was kind
ground zero with the entire film as one of the most successful films at showed me the complete research on enough...they decided to let the ac-
the box office in 2023 so far. It de- Bastar I saw the data on the violence tor live it before making such a film.
team present in Raipur. Helmed picts how thousands of young women there. Like that time there was cele- I met IPS officers, and IG there. I
by Sudipto Sen and produced were allegedly brainwashed into join- bration in JNU. I saw a lot of other stayed with the CRPF jawans in their
ing the Islamic State (IS) and head- things in that research. When you camps. I saw how they train. I have a
by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film ing off to countries like Syria and see all that and on the other hand see lot of gratitude in me. Girls can move
is all set to hit the theatres on Afghanistan. that the intellectuals in cities are pro- around freely because jawans are
protecting us. I love my country and I
viding cover fire to the same and jus-
Speaking about the film, Vipul
March 15. Amrutlal Shah said, “We do not want tifying it, you realise that 90% of the feel very close to the people protect-
any controversy. We just make films people don’t know about something ing it.”

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