In his next film, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar turns his attention to life in Indian jails “Hindi cinema has often glorified life in jails and been insensitive in its portrayal. Jails are a social issue and I have attempted to show the treatment of inmates behind the bars,” he said during a visit to Delhi to promote the film. “I have often been asked by directors how I find subjects that others miss. The answer is that I highlight the neglected facets of our society,” he adds.
In Jail, he chose actor Neil Nitin Mukesh to play businessman Parag Dixit who is sentenced to a prison term. “This film is not inspired by anyone’s life. It is purely fictional,” says the director. The film has Mugdha Godse making her second appearance in his film, after Fashion.
To stick to his true-to-life style of cinema, Bhandarkar visited jails across the country and spent time with the inmates, observing their routine. “I was touched by their hope and positive attitude,” he says.
The nude scenes of Mukesh, however, haven’t gone down well with the Censor Board. “We have often seennudity in western cinema so why do we shy away from it in Hindi films? I did not shoot the scenes in a titillating style, but still, out of respect for the Censor Board, I voluntarily pixellated certain scenes in the film,” he says.
Unlike in Fashion, the filmmaker will not have a cameo in Jail. “This time, I gave acting a miss,” he says with a smile, adding that he shot the film in a personal record time of three months. For his next project, Bhandarkar has decided to make a departure from realistic cinema and attempt comedy. “I am writing a script for a musical tribute to Hrishikesh Mukherjee. I have not decided on the cast or the film’s name,” he says.
