Entertainment
Four people can’t decide what should be viewed and spoken by the nation: Prakash Jha
Director turned actor Prakash Jha (Photo by: Darshan Bagwe)
After being lauded for his political and socio-political films like Apahran, Rajneeti, Aarakshan, Mrityudand, etc, the eight times National Award winner, Prakash Jha, marked his debut as an actor in his directorial movie – Jai Gangaajal. While he believes that parallel cinema is consumed at par with commercial and mainstream cinemas, as every audience has many instincts, Jha has been spearheading growth in areas like health care, vocational training and infrastructure facilities in his birthplace Bihar. In an exclusive interview with Nation next, director turned actor Prakash Jha, speaks about his views on parallel cinema and censorship in movies. He feels that despite being a celebrity, one must put across his honest opinion in front of the society without the fear of criticism.
Excerpts:
Jai Gangaajal marked your debut as an actor. Did your technical background (as a director) help you in understanding the requirements of the work of an actor?
For me, movie making begins from a thought process. Most of the films begin with a thought that develops into a research. I meet several characters and eventually, representation of several characters begin to take shape. For me, to understand and know the character, attitude and their mannerism has not been difficult because that’s what I have been doing. I write my own scripts, stories and dialogues. So, when I’m writing, all the characters are actually playing their part in my mind and they are speaking their dialogues. So, I’m the first one to see my film even before it’s made. Likewise, I could visualise my character (of police officer BN Singh) in Jai Gangaajal. To understand that character was not difficult for me. As an actor, the real challenge lies in physically translating the imagined character into a real character.
Amruta Fadnavis recorded a spiritual song for your film Jai Gangaajal. Please tell us something about it?
She has an amazing voice. The film had a bhajan at a very crucial time and she rendered it beautifully.
You are one of the few celebrated directors, who focus on socio-political stories. What is the inspiration and motive behind such movies
The society is my hero. I keep observing any social development and change that happen in the society for whatever reason. I try to find out why and how something is happening and what kind of impact it leaves. My films are based on issues that surround us on a daily basis. My movies don’t depend on an individual; rather it depends on many individuals. Such things draw my attention. Right now, I’m talking about young India with a huge aspiration, which is under tremendous pressure.
You have always portrayed a real India in your films through art and commercial films by holding on to your roots in them. How do you feel to be regarded as a director in the league of Govind Nihalani, Shyam Benegal, Kundan Shah, Sai Paranjpye, etc?
The most important element in my film is ?dust. To create a shot using dust, for a minutes duration, we need at least 50 people who have to rub their feet on the ground so that the dust rises. I like portraying such details because I can relate to them. For e.g. children who play in dust are more immune from diseases. The more you keep everything sanitised, the more you are prone to health issues.
Parallel cinema focuses on realism and serious content. Do you feel parallel cinema is gradually dying?
Films like Masaan, Titli, The Lunchbox, etc have been well received not just nationally but internationally too and that too commercially. They have served a particular audience. Not that other commercial mainstream movies don’t need to be made; audiences need such movies as well. We are spiritual, but not all the time. We even go to red light areas. Even if we might not go there, mentally we might be occupied with the thought. Every instinct needs different kinds of movies.
Your movies focus majorly on political and social issues. Are your films commercial star casts and raunchy item songs (for e.g. Manyata Dutts item song in Gangaajal), primarily for providing commercial sale-ability? to your films
Manyatas song was apt for the atmosphere and suited the film’s culture. It was the requirement of the plot.
Talking about the society, you said there is no intolerance in the country and the society is strong. But aren’t we tolerant for most of the wrongdoings in our society as well?
We are not tolerant. We are still waking up to many things. When we talk about intolerance in our society, it’s primarily about ideologies. There may be fear in people’s mind (like Karan Johar, Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan) and I respect their fear. If you ask me, I have no fear. I have never experienced any fear. If there are things I believe in, I have fought for them even when there were obstacles.
You are of the view that India doesn’t need censorship. Wouldn’t the banning of the same lead to moral corruption?
Suppose, a street sells only pornographic material. People won’t stand there all the time. If you have double meaning songs being sung all the time, people won’t like it. We are intelligent enough to understand what is good for us and what is bad for us. Four people (Censor Board) can’t decide what should be viewed and spoken by the nation.
Sonu Nigam recently said that everybody has a right to an opinion except for a celebrity. Do you agree with him?
If you have an honest opinion, you must voice it fearlessly. I’m a filmmaker and people have multiple opinions about my films but I can’t stop making films because of criticism.
Nagpur News
Nagpur Youth Congress activists stage protest against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP
Members of Youth Congress Nagpur…
Members of Nagpur Youth Congress staged protest against former Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as Member of Parliament from Lok Sabha amid ‘Modi surname’ remark. The protest was held at Chhatrapati Square in the city on Saturday morning where members raised slogans hailing Gandhi.
When we spoke to Secretary, Maharashtra Youth Congress, Abhishek Dhawad, who led the protest, said, “It is an orchestrated attack on the democracy. And, BJP’s attempt to cripple the voice of Opposition by expunging Rahul Gandhiji is a testimony to the fact that the accusations hold weight and thus the BJP government needs to come clean.”
When asked about Gandhi’s accusation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi siding with business tycoon Gautam Adani, Dhawad quipped, “Adani’s meteoric rise couldn’t have happened without the former being hand in glove with the Centre. It’s the biggest scam in the history of mankind!”
Senior Congress leader and former Corporator Praful Gudadhe Patil, Nagpur District Secretary Mangesh Kamone, etc., marked their presence during the protest.
Gandhi, on Friday, was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP, a day after a Surat Court convicted him in a defamation case regarding Modi surname remark. The notification disqualifying the Wayanad MP was issued hours after Gandhi attended the morning session of Lok Sabha.
Gandhi, in 2019, had remarked, “Why all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi have Modi in their names.”
Also read: Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP bars him from contesting LS polls for 8 years?
Rare conjunction of Moon and Venus
A rare celestial event occurred on Friday evening when Moon and the brightest planet in our solar system Venus aligned in conjunction. The alignment was observed in various parts of the world, including Hyderabad, Chandrapur, Nagpur to name a few.
This conjunction is a relatively uncommon occurrence that happens when the two celestial bodies appear close to each other in the sky. The occurrence is particularly rare when the two are at their brightest.
By March-end this year, an alignment of five planets (Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars) in the skies will be witnessed, as seen from Earth. Five planets are set to align between March 25 to March 30 as Earth enters the equinox.
While all five planets continue to roam around each other in the final days of March, you will be able to see them the clearest on March 28.
Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP bars him from contesting LS polls for 8 years?
Also read: Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP bars him from contesting LS polls for 8 years?
Congress Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi was on Friday disqualified as Lok Sabha MP, a day after a Surat Court convicted him in a defamation case. The notification disqualifying the Wayanad MP was issued hours after Gandhi attended the morning session of Lok Sabha.
What does the notification read?
“Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Surat… Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency in Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction… in terms of the provisions of Article 102(!)(e) of the Constitution read with Section of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the notification read.
Gandhi barred from contesting LS polls for 8 years?
As per law and legal experts, Gandhi’s disqualification came into ‘immediate and automatic’ effect upon his conviction and sentencing despite the grant of bail.
Former Congress leader and Union law minister Kapil Sibal told NDTV that Rahul stands automatically disqualified as an MP with his two-year jail sentence. He said, “If it (the court) only suspends the sentence that’s not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction.”
Sibal added, “For a statement made in respect of certain individuals, for him to be convicted for two years — it is totally bizarre.”
What does the law say?
The Representation of the People Act, 1951, (RPA) directs immediate disqualification of any lawmaker who is ‘convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years.’ The law also states that if one is convicted in any offence for two years then the seat will be vacant immediately.
Lawyer and senior BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani told NDTV, “By the operation of the law, he (Gandhi) stands disqualified, but the decision has to be communicated to the Speaker. But as of today, he stands disqualified.”
How can Gandhi avoid disqualification?
Gandhi will have to secure an order from a higher court suspending the conviction. The RPA states, “A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years [other than any offence referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2)] shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release.”
It means, that apart from his jail term, Gandhi will not be able to contest polls for subsequent six more years.
Why the disqualification?
Surat Court, on Thursday, awarded two-year jail term to Gandhi in a defamation case for his ‘all thieves have Modi surname’ remark. The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged ‘how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?’ remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.
The Court also imposed a fine of ₹15,000 after finding him guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (dealing with defamation). However, he secured a bail in the same case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Verma heard the final arguments regarding Gandhi’s 2019 remark, “Why all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi have Modi in their names.” Gandhi’s counsel Kirit Panwala said, “We will today send a message to Rahul Gandhi to remain present on March 23 in Surat district court. Most probably, he would be present in the court. We will get confirmation on Saturday.”
Gandhi made the alleged remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi sentenced to 2 years in jail in Modi surname defamation case
Nagpur Youth Congress activists stage protest against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP
Skygazers witness rare, stunning conjunction of Moon and Venus in sky | Nagpur
Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP bars him from contesting LS polls for 8 years?
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