PANCHLAIT

Director: Prem Modi

Cast: Amitosh Nagpal, Anuradha Mukherjee, Yashpal Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Brijendra Kala

Based on Phanishwar Nath Renu’s short story Panchlight, the film tells the story of a village named Mahato that doesn’t have electricity. Tired of living a life in darkness, the villagers manage to buy a Panchlait, aka a Petromax lamp, but are not educated enough to know how to light it... leading to one hilarious situation after another. 

Yashpal Sharma — the man we best know as Lakha in Aamir Khan’s iconic film Lagaan and who is a staple in Prakash Jha’s films — was in Calcutta recently to talk about Panchlait, currently playing in theatres. A t2 chat.

What can you tell us about your character in Panchlait?

Mera jo character hai woh sarpanch hai gaon ka. This is the second film that’s been made on a story written by Phanishwar Nath Renu… the first was Teesri Kasam (directed by Basu Bhattacharya and starring Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman) in 1966. It’s very difficult to make a film based on literature these days because the world has become so fast. This world is of Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Skype and pataa nahin kya kya. Aur yeh hum baat kar rahein hain jab humein ek panchlait (Petromax lamp) chahiye (smiles). I want to tell my audience that please for two hours leave your mobile phones and come and see this film. Guarantee deta hoon main you will remember (this film) till death. This is a film like that… like Mother India, like Lagaan, like Do Ankhen Barah Haath, like Satyakam….
 
So you aren’t tech-savvy?

Tech-savvy, matlab? (t2 explains) … Nahin, nahin. Mera mobile dekho wahaan para hai. These days, seven people sit in one room and everybody is on their phones. They want to connect to people but are far from the people who are near them.

You’ve been in the industry for a long time. What are the changes you see now?

There’s been a change in films as well as in the thought of the people making them. Lots of talented directors have come in. We’ve had Newton (starring Rajkummar Rao) recently and Panchlait is also like that… bheer se alag ek film banayi hai. Our writer, Rakesh Kumar Tripathi, took one-and-a half years to write this film… he had to take a three-four page story and create a world around it. Aapke Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute ke bahut saare actors hain isme. Aur Calcutta mein theatre jo kar rahein hain… aise bahut saare actors hain.

Real stories and content-based cinema is now working. Stars are no longer the criteria.

Any tips for youngsters who want to seriously pursue theatre?

They should read some good literature and watch good films like Newton. Write a diary, daily. Chaahe ek page likho, chaahe do line likho… make a habit of writing a diary. You will see a change in yourself after sometime. 

You’ve worked in some big films like Lagaan and Gangaajal. Which actors and directors would you like to work with?

Aamir Khan hain, Nana Patekar hain… inke saath main hamesha kaam karna chahoonga. Among directors, there’s Ashutosh Gowariker, Shoojit Sircar and Shimit Amin. I am not very excited to work with people I have already done films with,  but Aamir ke saath kar sakta hoon, kyunki Lagaan mein bahut zyada scene nahin thhey.

You’ve often spoken about your love for Calcutta…

Calcutta ka jo old-world feel hai… jaise angrezon ke time ki jo purani buildings hai… woh bheer hain… jo chaos City of Joy film mein tha, I love that. Aur yahaan ka phuchka, mishti doi aur hilsa… mind-blowing! Aur main yahaan natak bhi karne aaya hoon kayi baar.

Sulogna Ghosh

Pictures: Arnab Mondal

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