‘I chose a story which was very UP-based and it became Lagaan’

How was your trip to Calcutta?

Very good. I was basically scouting locations... I have been to Calcutta three times before but this time I just wanted to soak in the city. This time I was going primarily keeping in mind the setting of Chittagong of 1930, where my forthcoming film on Surya Sen (Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey) is set. My recce of Bangladesh is already done... I went to Chittagong and Dhaka.

And you cannot shoot there?

All the locations that were there have either become government properties or have been dismantled. They are not in a position to be shot. So, I have to recreate them anyway. I have to build sets. Now either I will build them in Calcutta or in Mumbai. I am trying to figure that out.

So if you do choose to erect sets in Mumbai and shoot the film there, you won’t be coming to shoot in Calcutta?

No, Calcutta in itself is a part of the film. The British had their mainhold in Calcutta and the effects of the uprising in Chittagong could be felt in Calcutta. So, right now, I am just evaluating everything.

Can sets replicate the essence of the period?

It’s a balance between economics and creativity. If I want to shoot in the Taj Mahal, I am not allowed permission, I won’t get it. If I have a scene of Taj Mahal, I have to build a set, whether I like it or not. Those are all creative and economic conditions.

Why a film on Surya Sen?

I as a kid had read about the Chittagong uprising in school text books. But beyond that there was no information. How the army raid happened, who all were the martyrs... Then I came across the Manini Chatterjee book Do and Die, that really was a mind-opener for me. She has written such a detailed account and such an excruciatingly done book, it really helped me go into the entire process of the army raid and helped me know about Surya Sen, Ganesh Ghosh, Ambika Chakraborty, Kalpana Dutt... It’s quite fascinating how a teacher started it all. The book really excited me as a film-maker and I decided to purchase the rights. I contacted Manini and that’s how it all started...

Will you be adapting the book or will you use the historical material in the book as the backdrop?

A combination of both. See, Surya Sen is known mainly in Bengal, much more than anywhere else in the country. While having the facts in place, I want to take Surya Sen out of Bengal and make him more national. Make him international by taking the story overseas. No one knows about the Chittagong uprising. So I want to piece together the missing links while blending in the facts.

Will it be a biopic of Surya Sen or a film on the freedom struggle?

The bigger picture... the freedom struggle. We will look at his part in the struggle and naturally it will be his story.

Where all did you visit in Calcutta to scout for locations?

I went everywhere I always wanted to go and also places that can turn out to be locations. I have never been to Jorasanko, I have never been to Santiniketan... I went to National Museum, lots of palaces, the zamindari mansions, Bishnupur, Raichak. I wanted to absorb the Bengaliness.

How Bengali will the film be?

A lot of it. Because all the characters were Bengalis. There will be smattering of dialogues in Bengali, clothes will be Bengali. But I also feel that’s not enough. To show any culture, the thought process has to be captured... the behavioural patterns.

You are a big fan of Satyajit Ray and have a Pather Panchali poster in your office. Will shooting in Calcutta hold a special meaning for you?

That is not the driving force for me to make the film. I am making the film because I am driven by the story. I am a great fan of both Ray and Ghatak but I have never ever wanted to make a Bengali or Bengal-based movie. I chose a story which was very UP-based and it became Lagaan. I chose a story which was very Rajasthan and it became Jodhaa Akbar. Now, my next film What’s Your Rashee? is a very Gujarati story. So the story comes first.

What is it about historicals and you?

History is a fascinating subject. We need to learn from our past. We keep saying history repeats itself. That is because there are incidents that have occurred and they happen again. A lot of times, we commit mistakes that we have made before. That is because we don’t look back often. Of course, the story or plot should have a contemporary meaning.

Is it true you have spoken to Hrithik Roshan about playing Surya Sen?

No, I haven’t done any casting. I am first only going to focus on the script and research. Shooting will probably only happen in the middle of next year.