Caste as a difficulty isn’t commented on in Hindi cinema as it isn’t conventionally entertaining, believes veteran actor Amol Palekar, who’s returning to movies after a substantial hole of 12 years with 200 – Halla Ho, a real story of Dalit girls who attacked a rapist in an open courtroom.
The movie, directed by Sarthak Dasgupta and co-written by Sarthak and Gaurav Sharma, touches upon the problems of sexual violence, caste oppression, corruption and authorized loopholes by the eyes of 200 Dalit girls.
Amol, recognized for Nineteen Seventies Hindi movies like Rajnigandha, Chitchor, Chhoti Si Baat, Gol Maal, stated producers normally draw back from such “disturbing” matters.
“The script of this film dealt with caste issues, which have remained invisible in Indian cinema. Such themes are disturbing and not conventionally ‘entertaining’. Producers have shied away from backing such projects all through our cinematic journey,” Amol informed PTI in an e-mail interview.
Caste points have efficiently featured in Marathi and Tamil cinema with movies similar to Nagraj Manjule’s Fandri and Sairat and Pa Ranjith’s Kaala and Sarpatta Parambarai, respectively. In Hindi mainstream cinema, caste has largely stayed invisible, barring Neeraj Ghaywan’s Masaan and Geeli Pucchi, a brief within the Netflix anthology movie Ajeeb Daastaans.
Amol stated the Hindi movie trade nonetheless refuses to return out of “Brahminical aesthetics”. “Hindi cinema still prefers to maintain a conspicuous silence about caste issues. Our film industry refuses to come out of the Brahminical aesthetics. Themes of the caste divide used to get introduced through a love story. Though oppression was shown, the relief used to appease the majority,” he stated.
“Plight of women used to be a sub-text. With the advent of OTT (over-the-top) platforms, female-centric themes are being handled; female characters are getting meaningful, lead roles. All this is a very heartening change,” he added.
Citing the instance of movies similar to Aamir Khan-starrer Lagaan, Taapsee Pannu’s Pink and Thappad, the 76-year-old actor, who has straddled theatre, movies, TV and artwork, believes cinema as a medium has “stupendous power” to enchantment to the plenty.
“We saw how Lagaan was loved by all, we saw how Pink or Thappad addressed misogyny. Such films addressed issues which made all of us face our hypocrisy,” he stated.
Amol stated as a director he has typically made movies with sturdy feminine characters which have challenged the standard dictates of patriarchy however burdened that there was a necessity for extra such “subversive” content material to be made.
The actor is hopeful that 200 – Halla Ho – which is concerning the struggle of girls towards oppression, will definitely impress the viewers. “My film Anaahat dealt with issues of female sexuality, yet another banned theme. We need more and more subversive content. Depiction of collective strength and the power it yields will certainly inspire the audience. Small ripples will also be very effective,” he stated.
“200 – Halla Ho gives that strong sense of empowerment that will inspire the audience. The projection of an assurance that ‘injustice can be ended through collective protest’ will bring constructive change in our lives, I hope. We as filmmakers ought to transcend objectification of victimhood… we as artistes ought to offer constructive resolves,” he added.
Amol is making a comeback to appearing after a decade with the movie. The key motive behind his absence from the massive display screen, the actor stated, is a dearth of difficult roles.
“As an actor, I’m a comet who surfaces as soon as in a decade. Most roles provided to older actors are insignificant when it comes to the theme of the movie. I all the time accepted roles provided that these challenged me as an actor or if it contributes to the scheme of the movie.
“Acting just for the sake of earning money was never my pursuit. What fun is playing a superfluous role of someone’s father or a grandfather? I prefer to hide than to get overexposed,” the actor, whose final launch was the 2009 Marathi movie Samaantar, which he additionally directed, stated.
When Amol was approached for 200- Halla Ho, the actor stated he was pleasantly shocked and even urged the makers to forged an actor from the Bahujan samaj for the function of a retired Dalit decide however they had been eager on having him.
“I am never a part of anything which is regressive. I liked the role for multiple reasons. The film celebrates the protest of 200 women against patriarchy and caste atrocities. They were the heroes and I was just a supporting character who supported their protest rather than merely remain as a bystander,” he stated.
200- Halla Ho additionally options Sairat star Rinku Rajguru, Asur actor Barun Sobti, Jogwa actor Upendra Limaye, Abhay actor Indraneil Sengupta, Soni actor Saloni Batra and Sahil Khattar, a preferred YouTuber and host, who performs the rape accused.
The movie is alleged to be based mostly on the aftermath of the killing of the gangster and mass rapist Bharat Kalicharan aka Akku Yadav by 200 Dalit girls in 2004. 200- Halla Ho releases on the streaming platform ZEE5 on Friday.
