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Saragarhi on
celluloid
WSN Bureau
MUMBAI: Three stalwarts of the Indian film industry in consultation
with the Information and Broadcasting and Defence Ministry have
decided to make a full length documentary movie on the Battle of
Saragarhi. Rohit Jugraj will direct the venture, to be produced
jointly by Sanjay Dutt and Bunty Walia. Tentatively entitled, 21
Battle of Saragarhi- From Ashes to Glory, the producers have
enrolled more than a score of actors for the film. The lead role of
Havildar Ishar Singh is to be played by the Sanjay Dutt, who is the
son of Sunil Dutt, for whom the progress and prosperity of Punjab
and Punjabis was very dear.
The Battle of Saragarhi was fought on 12 September 1897 between 21
Sikhs of the Sikh Regiment of British India, defending an army post
against some 10,000 Afghan and Orakzai tribesmen in the NWFP and all
21 soldiers sacrificed their lives in the battle.
According to reports, all the actors will undergo intensive training
to build a Punjab physique before the shooting begins.
Talking about the film, Bunty Walia says, "I am a Sikh and since
many years, I wanted to tell this brave story of the Sikhs to the
world. Rohit broached this subject with me recently and asked if we
could make a film on this and I knew that my dream had been realised."
Bunty Walia has managed to rope in Sanjay Dutt to play the lead role
of Havildar Ishar Singh.
The film will have rich special effects. A lot of technicians from
abroad are on board and some of the technicians have also assisted
on the Hollywood film 300. Chris Watts who has done the supervisor
of special effects movie 300 and Christopher Doyle of the Lady in
Water fame may also be roped in for the movie. This film would
easily pass as one of the costliest film ever made in Bollywood
since the budget is estimated to be around Rs 200 crore.
Interestingly, the shooting of the film will be in Morocco because,
as the producer says, “the topography of Morocco is quite similar to
the topography of the North West Province where the Battle of
Saragarhi took place."
6 August, 2008
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