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A MAN’S MISSION WITH A MESSAGE
He storms into
the room in a state of extraordin ary
excitement (he is generally in a state of excitement but I have
never seen him in this state during the twenty years that I have
known him). He has just received the first reports of the advance
booking of his film, Mission Kashmir, from Raipur. The report says
there are thousands of people outside a theatre. The tickets for
the first week are sold within hours. There is a scary stampede
which leads to a riot. Commandos and policemen are called in to
control the situation. It is strange. The turmoil at the theatre
drives Vinod into a delirium. He is gloriously happy as he keeps
receiving similar reports from different centres, various theatres
from all over. Mission Kashmir has turned into a craze wherever
the advance bookings have opened. Enough reason for Vidhu Vinod
Chopra, the man behind the film to go crazy. He is already known
as a crazy man, a man who lives in a world of his own, with his
own ambitions and ideas, a man who revels in isolation.
Vinod is ecstatic, not just for himself, but for his entire team
who have risked their lives to make a film like Mission Kashmir.
There is more reason for excitement. The President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan
and his wife are to see Mission Kashmir at Rashtrapati Bhawan two
days later. He suddenly remembers that he doesn’t have proper
clothes or the right shoes to wear to his first grand event. Two
days later, he is to fly to London where Mission Kashmir is to be
premiered at the prestigious Time Square and Piccadilly Square.
He says that he is happy that he has made the film to his complete
satisfaction and the small audience of friends gives him a round
of applause. Vinod says he has worked very hard on what he considers
his most “delicate, difficult and daring film”. He has
not had a normal life for almost a year since he started the making
of Mission Kashmir. He has no time to see a film like Fiza or any
other film for that matter. All his days and nights are for Mission
Kashmir. Vinod is a filmmaker who makes films according to his state
of mind. He wanted to try out an experiment with his very first
film after coming of the FTII. He made Sazaaye Maut which got him
recognition. He was in a steady straight frame of mind when he made
Khamosh. Soon he was angry again and he changes his anger into a
film called Parinda. He was then in a mood to make an epic-like
film. He made 1942 A Love Story. He was madly in love with his wife,
Anu, who loved soft, sweet, loving and lovable films. He made Kareeb
and dedicated it to her. He was very unhappy when the film failed
at the box-office and he decided to make a film he always wanted
to make, a film on Kashmiriyat, the centuries-old Kashmiri tradition
of religious, tolerance and harmony. He worked on the script furiously.
He got other writers like Vikram Chandra and Suketu Mehta, an Indian
writer settled in England on a mission to write a book about India
and he had Atul Tiwari to write the dialogue. The writer paid several
visits to Paradise on fire (Kashmir) and came up with stories that
inspired Vinod to work on a complete subject, a subject in which
he wanted to say what he wanted to about Kashmir, his beautiful
Kashmir, his Paradise on earth where he had spent the best years
of his life before the enemies of Kashmiriyat got the devils with
their tongues of fire, set Kashmir on fire, destroyed it day by
day, night after night, making life one long nightmare, forcing
people to forget their `garden’ and flee to all kinds of places,
homeless, hungry , thirsty, reduced to absolute poverty and penury.
Vinod took a vow to open the eyes of the people of the world to
the turning of heaven into hell, a situation he believed which was
not created by the people, not even by the people of two countries
but by a pack of power- hungry, dradly, filthy, sinister, politicians
for their own nasty and nefarious needs.
Vinod knew it was difficult to make a film on Kashmir, in Kashmir,
under the burning circumstances but he knew that he would make a
film on Kashmir only if he had the opportunity to shoot a major
part in actual Kashmir. He made all kinds of arrangements with the
authorities and then got busy getting a team together. He convinced
two hundred and twenty people of his unit to listen to the voice
of their souls, their conscience. The team agreed whole-heartedly.
And Vinod made very sure that his entire team was insured. He soon
led his team into the heart of bleeding Kashmir and shot amid fire
and brimstone for more than twenty days and fortunately for him
he completed whatever crucial work was to be done in proper Kashmir
and fortunately without any risk to any human been or material.
He has completed the film and will release it on October 27 as a
Diwali gift, the gift of Kashmiriyat, the tradition of religious,
tolerance and harmony which is the need of the hour not only in
Kashmir or India but all over the world.....
Vinod has a long day to go, meetings to attend, Focuss to be given
to different papers and channels. He has a picturesque brochure
which gives you most of the details about the film but talking to
Vinod with his excitement growing and reading a brochure in silence
are two different experiences. Vinod has no time, he pleads but
he somehow manages to talk inspite of all the hurdles of the day
in his way.....
What are your earliest memories of Kashmir, your homeland?
Believe me, I believed that I was really living in heaven. I lived
a very carefree kid’s life, free to do what I liked. I was
a grown-up man even while I was a kid. That’s why at times
I still feel the mischievous, emotional, naughty and even smart
kid is still a part of me. I can still remember every little scene,
every little garden, every little pool covered with snow and all
the lovely flowers all over the place. I also remember the faces
of some of my friends. God knows where they are now after Paradise
is on fire.
Why did you think of making a film on Kashmir when every one else
thought it was a very big risk?
I was a filmmaker. Kashmir was my homeland and it was in serious
trouble. As a son of Kashmir I felt it was my duty to do something
for my homeland. I knew I couldn’t find solutions to the burning
problem of Kashmir all by myself. The men who were supposed to find
the solutions where more interested in creating greater problems
for paradise and its people. It was their job, their bread and butter
while the poor innocent Kashmiri people suffered and died for no
reason at all. I had all the material to give the world a jolt by
telling them the truth about what was happening in Kashmir. I thought
about the subject for days and the more angry I got, the more determined
I got to make Mission Kashmir.
How did you manage to convince your unit to stake their lives for
your passion?
My people had immense faith in me. They knew I was doing something
good and not just making another song and dance film. They stood
by me through thick and thin and I shall always be grateful to them
because Mission Kashmir would not be possible at all without their
grit and guts.
What about the stars, Sanjay, Jackie, the young Hrithik who had
no release to his credit and Preity Zinta. Did they make excuses,
create tantrums or create reasons to keep away from taking major
risks?
Frankly, the stars were not stars when they were working on Mission
Kashmir. They were brave soldiers. They never shirked from their
responsibilities. They went out of their ways to give me all the
co-operation I needed. Can you believe it, they never showed fear
of any kind under the most ferocious circumstances. Infact they
helped me in making my film a better film. Can you believe me when
I say they Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik came up with suggestions which
I accepted because I saw sense in them. I have their suggestions
in their own handwriting as mementoes. These stars even helped me
in the editing, the film even the young Preity did. I knew they
were sincere and good and honest and even interested in doing their
best. The risks they took would not have been taken by the real
life fighters too. I was very lucky to have found these artistes
who never thought of danger, money, time and any other such temptations
during the making of the film.
Weren’t you even lucky to get the right stars at the right
time? You signed Hrithik long before he could even dream of becoming
a superstar. You signed Sanjay Dutt when he was at the peak of his
career. You signed Jackie when he was doing some very good and meaningful
roles and you signed Peity Zinta when she just won recognition films
like Dil Se and Kya Kehna.
Thanks for reminding me about all these surprises. I never thought
of my stars in these terms when I signed them for my film. I only
convinced myself that they suited the character in my script. That
was all. My film, I am sure, will take them to new heights because
they have slogged to reach there. I am extremely thankful to all
my stars and in future if I have some kind of opportunity I would
cast all of them or atleast most of them all over again.
Are you genuinely satisfied with “Mission Kashmir”? Can
you name to your two favourite films?
I would have burnt all the tins if I was not satisfied with the
film. And as for my two favourite films, the first is Khamosh and
the second, this one, Mission Kahsmir. These films have given me
tremendous satisfaction and the courage to face greater challenges
as a filmmaker. I have had to recover after the release of both
these films. Like now I am just waiting for all the formalities
that I have to finish before the release and than take a break after
which I will think of another subject during the break I take.
What qualifications do you consider when you sign an actor or an
actress?
First and foremost, I look for a good man or a good woman. I then
look for sincere and honest people I can trust in totally. Acting
and talent and greatness can come later or be developed while making
the film but I need good men and women of integrity if I have to
get good work from my whole team.
How much importance does a serious filmmaker like you give to entertainment?
Lots, too much. Who told you I am a serious filmmaker. I am a story
teller. I tell stories and my stories have all the elements of entertainment
blended with the seriousness which can help bringing burning problems
into focus. I have no solutions, I am no miracle worker, I am no
messiah. I am just a plain story teller. If my story works, well
and good. If it doesn’t I’ll tell you another story. I
have lots and lots of stories which I keep telling from time to
time.
What about your music in the film?
It is a near perfect blend of modern instrumentation and eastern
melody. Two songs are based on Kashmiri folk songs and the entire
score maintains a freshness rarely seen in Hindi cinema.
Do you expect any controversies to be raised in your film?
No, none at all, unless some won wants to take revenge and spoil
my film. My film, infact, deserves so many awards. Like Jackie has
one just two major awards in his career and both are for my films,
Parinda and 1942 A Love Story. Jackie says he has already reserved
a third slot for another award in Mission Kashmir. I hope that slot
is filled. It will create some sort of a record. And if there is
any man who deserves all the good things in life it is this good
man, Jackie Shroff.
Have you given a thought to the clash of the release date between
your film and Yash Chopra’s Mohabbatein? They are being released
on the same day?
There is no question of any clash. We are releasing our films on
the same date. What happens and how the people react we will have
to wait and see. We are not fighting wars. We have just made films
for the entertainment for the people. I will invite Yashji to see
my film and I am sure Yashji will invite me to see his film. We
are not in a wrestling ring. We are creative people, trying our
best to make good films the rest is in the hands of God and the
people.
And what other missions are do you have in mind?
Just now it is just Mission Kashmir on my mind. I don’t know
what I will try next. I never know what till it happens but it has
to happen. Once a filmmaker always a filmmaker. There’s no
hope for him.
P.S. Vinod has put on a lot of weight during the making
of Mission Kashmir. I have never heard of something like this happening
to a director during the making of his film. Will some bright psychiatrist
throw some light on this extraordinary phenomenon about an extraordinary
man?
There is a moving dedication by Vinod at the end of the brochure
he has made for his film with lots of love. It reads: “ for
my children Ishaa and Agni Dev and for all the children of conflict.
May they dream freely and may they some day rediscover that Valley
of love I grew up in, that heaven of harmony, that Paradise called
Kashmir”.
This dedication can and must reach all the centres of conflicts
in the world. It can work miracles and even may be turn the whole
world into Paradise and who would not love to live life in Paradise,
here on earth?.
AJ
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