Author: Anand Bhisey
Publication: Free Press Journal
Date: May 9, 2004
It is indeed surprising how times
change. Once strictly taboo in the corridors of power, the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and things connected with it now have
official sanction. Well, practically so, with the Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting (I&B) of the Government of India actually funding
a 30 minute documentary on Dr Keshav Balirampant Hedgewar, the founder
of the RSS.
The change in the government's attitude
can probably be attributed to the presence of Atal Behari Vajpayee at the
helm of affairs in New Delhi. Yet, the RSS, ostracized for its alleged
involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the demolition of
the disputed structure at Ayodhya, has come a long, long way. (The
RSS has been banned thrice in the past - in 1948 shortly after the Mahatma's
assassination, in 1975, during the emergency, and in 199 after 'Black Sunday'
at Ayodhya).
The Films Division, which is under
the Ministry of I&B, has sanctioned Rs.10 lakh for producing the documentary
on 35 mm film. The documentary is being directed by Yakub Sayeed,
a former Doordarshan Officer.
The seeds of the documentary were
sown in his mind when Sayeed, as Station Director of the Nagpur Centre
of Doordarshan created a storm by producing a programme on RSS in 1985.
He was given a stern dressing down by the top brass, but Sayeed stood his
ground by asserting that he was only fulfilling his obligation towards
the local audience.
Sayeed retired from Doordarshan
in 1992. The documentary on Dr Hedgewar remained a pet project. About a
year ago, he wrote about the idea to the Prime Minister himself.
He got a routine acknowledgement of his letter. Routine, that is, until
he received a formal proposal from the Films Division.
And where else would a documentary
on RSS be short, but at Nagpur, the city that witnessed the organization's
birth and growth, and is still at least on paper, its headquarters? Sayeed
and his crew recently completed a weeklong schedule at various locations
in Nagpur, canning some of the most important events in the RSS founder's
life. Some more scenes are to be shot over three days I June in Kolkata,
where Hedgewar obtained his degree in medical science.
Sayeed has used both narrative and
dramatization to move the script. The documentary is Hindi, but will be
dubbed in 13 other languages. Documentary is expected to be complete by
August, and will be released by the Films division.
A lot of research and preparation
has gone into the script. After receiving the sanction from the films
Division, Sayeed read over 60 books on Dr Hedgewar. Experts
then gave him a list 60 important incidents in Dr Hedgewar's life.
Sayeed selected the 15 most important among them to feature in the documentary.
True to the style of functioning
in RSS, the final okay for the script had to come from the tops - the Sarsanghchalak
himself. Sayeed spent over three hours with RSS chief K. S. Sudarshan
in Mumbai several weeks ago to finalise the script. Once the script
was approved, Sayeed wanted to waste no time in getting the film on the
floor. That explains the hectic shooting schedule in Nagpur during
the ferocious summer.
The RSS itself is also extending
all cooperation in the film's production. Some scenes were shot at
Smruti Mandir in Reshimbag, where RSS has created a memorial to the first
two Sarsanghchalaks. (Dr Hedgewar and Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar).
It also deployed a squad of 'Swayamsevaks' for a scene of a 'shakha' in
progress.
The decision to produce a documentary
rather than a full -length feature film is the result of several constraints.
According to Sayeed, producing a feature film is a big and costly exercise.
It would have been difficult to find a financer for the project.
Secondly, he would have been compelled to take 'artistic licence' in feature
film, adding imaginary episodes and incidents to keep the narrative going.
"My purpose is not to tell a story, but to highlight Dr Hedgewar's thoughts
and work. I want to show that Dr Hedgewar was pro-India and not anti-Muslim
and that the RSS is not anti-Congress". Sayeed told this correspondent
between takes.
Sayeed is therefore, not bothered
whether the actor who plays the lead role resembles Dr Hedgewar:
"You cannot have 100 per cent physical resemblance - that is just impossible.
I am more concerned about whether the actor can convey the RSS founder's
thoughts. I definitely 100 per cent there!"
That is a real challenge for Ramesh
Lakhmapure, a Nagpur-based threatre activist, who plays Dr Hedgewar in
the documentary. Lakhmalpure was reportedly chosen over renowned
actors like Sachin Khedekar and Govind Namdeo for the role. A competent
theater actor and director, Lakhmapure finds his first film assignment
a big learning experience.
The shooting has not been without
hiccups. Sayeed was to shoot a scene showing a meeting between Mahatma
Gandhi and Dr Hedgewar. However, the schedule went haywire as it
took several hours for Govind Mahadeo who plays Gandhi, to complete his
make-up, waited patiently in the unbearable head wearing a woolen coat.
Sayeed also wanted to shoot some
scenes in the house in Mahal area of Nagpur where Dr Hedgewar lived.
However, he had to drop the idea since he thought the house looked 'too
new' consequent to a recent restoration as a memorial.
The fact that a new government will
have been installed at the Centre by the time the film is completed and
the possibility that is may not be one led by the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) does not seem to bother Sayeed much. "Mera kaam hai film poori karna
Baaki who jaane (My job is to complete the film. The Films Division
will bother about the rest)" he quips.
