Dev’s film Bagha Jatin, which releases on October 19, tells the extraordinary tale of Jatindranath Mukherjee, a freedom fighter and a key figure in India’s struggle for Independence. He was christened Bagha Jatin because he fought a tiger with his bare hands. The movie sheds light on his fearless spirit, unwavering determination and love for his country. This film, directed by Arun Roy, celebrates the spirit of bravery and national pride that defined one of the most important chapters in Indian history. A t2 chat with Dev.
Why did you decide to release the film in Bengali and Hindi?
I was in Mumbai recently for the promotions, and I spoke to various sections of people, and quite a few of them were not fully aware of Bagha Jatin’s contribution to our freedom movement. From being the birthplace of revolutionary ideas to providing leadership, Bengal played a pivotal role in paving the way for India’s freedom. We wanted to tell this story to as many people as possible and that’s why we decided to release the film in Bengali and Hindi. In this journey, Bagha Jatin was one of the leaders. We have shown the age arc of Bagha Jatin from 16 to 35. From being the young and courageous Jatindranath who fought and killed a Royal Bengal Tiger to becoming a revolutionary. We have also depicted the major incidents that shook the British government to its core. Through this film, we are celebrating the life and sacrifices of one of our greatest freedom fighters.
The latest song, Ashbo phire, sung by Arijit Singh in Bengali and Sonu Nigam in Hindi, evokes strong emotions of patriotism...
It is my favourite song, and I am so happy that Arijit and Sonu Nigam lent their magical voices to it... it is a milestone for our production house. Incidentally, I have designed, directed and choreographed the scenes that you see in the song. I felt the song and the scenes should tell the story of revolutionaries as well as the soldiers. It should become their voice. The song harbours the feelings and dreams of an independent India. I wanted to depict the journey and the struggle of the revolutionary in the song... the feelings of pride, steely resolve and uncertainty he has when he steps out of his home leaving his family behind. It is about the nation before family. You see the men, who are on a mission, walking through dense forest in the night....
The teaser, trailer and songs highlight a strong emotional bond running through the scenes.
It is a family film, it is a patriotic film. The film is for every Indian. This film is for the country. It is about the people who fought valiantly and selflessly sacrificed their lives so that their country and countrymen could be free.
The film features many revolutionaries who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country. How could you condense everything into a single film?
It was a huge challenge. So much research work has gone into this film. We started working on the script almost three years ago. We had to tell a compelling story with all the revolutionaries from that period from Bengal, keeping the emotional core strong within a certain time frame.
How did Arun Roy come on board?
I had seen his film Egaro and loved it. And Arunda was trying to get in touch with me for a long time. Finally, we met and later he told me about the idea he had for Bagha Jatin. When I read the screenplay, I loved it. I knew Arunda was the right person to direct the film. I had complete faith in him and he has directed an amazing film. Dev Entertainment Ventures gave him all the support.
You also took risks by casting newcomers like Sreeja Dutta, who plays Indubala in the film.
For the casting, we selected individuals who looked like those people. For Indubala, we wanted someone who resembled her. Over time I have developed this confidence about newcomers. They are waiting for that one chance.
In the last two years, you have done three period films — Golondaaj, Byomkesh O Durgo Rahasya and Bagha Jatin. Are you attracted to such subjects or do you feel period films work well as big-ticket cinema with its scale and grandeur?
The scale depends on the story. See, the subjects of all the three films appealed to me. I am very proud of Bagha Jatin. Post-Covid, once my films like Golondaaj, Tonic and Projapoti became blockbusters, I knew there was a huge audience who would go to the theatres to watch a good film. I am really happy that people are offering me such great roles. Playing Bagha Jatin is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. The audience has faith in me.
How did you work on the body language?
While doing our research we came across information that said Bagha Jatin had 400 or 600 stitches on his left leg because of his encounter with the tiger. Now, no one knows how he walked. In our film, Bagha Jatin walks with a slight limp.
You started your promotions in schools. Why?
We wanted the students to be equipped with the knowledge of Bengal’s contribution to India’s Independence and Bagha Jatin’s role in it. We wanted to know their ideas of patriotism. They had questions for me and I had questions for them. The response was phenomenal.
Around 2018-2019, Bengali films were being shot in 14 or 15 days. The last year saw Bengali films striking gold at the box office, with your blockbuster Projapoti leading from the front. Do you see the tide turning? Do you see directors getting more time to shoot their films now?
Bagha Jatin was shot in 38 days. In fact, we took adequate time to shoot Golondaaj and Tonic. It also depends on the story and how many shooting days it deserves. Audiences are packing the theatres now, which is why the budget is going up and with it the shooting days. People want to see larger-than-life films. That is the norm. Now, if I do a film like Saanjbati once again, I doubt if people will pack the theatres again. The taste of the audience is changing, so one has to constantly innovate and offer them something new. All the films that I have lined up are big-ticket films, the scope, canvas and scale are really big, from the casting to the subject.
On which other Indian revolutionary would you want a film to be made? Tell t2@abp.in
