Director's Desk

There are some questions still to be answered, why the Film Makers from Indian Soil don’t know how to make 'Good' historical or Biographical Movies…? This film is again a proof of that. Nevertheless even British People said that we never understand the importance of History and don't know how to write. We always believe in superfluous mythological tale which tones up our brain to satisfy superstitions and our perpetual struggle to run away from the hard facts which may unearth those cognizance which is tough to gulp…

What a Man! Till some time back I didn’t know him at all but because of  my very detailed research on Buddha and Tourism,it gave the opportunity to amplify my knowledge about him. A man belongs to an untouchable cast “Mushar” of vIllage Gehlor, Gaya (Bihar) which has tradition to eat Mouse. This Man Dashrath Manjhi, single handedly chiseled and broken down the gargantuan stony Mountain and made a path through it, he unabatedly spent 22 long years with chisel and hammer just to bow down that Stone Man who forced villagers to take 45 kms long turn to reach a tiny city to fulfill their day to day requirements. This is one of the most dramatic story of India just like super hero types!

But Ketan Mehta just diminished Manjhi's figure in every possible way. When I was watching I felt that director was in utmost hurry to finish! Poorly researched, ill-treated, lost in all authenticity.When we are talking about 1962, one should understand that era of tyrannical feudal rule and most importantly the meaning of poverty, I think Ketan Mehta was not even in mood of to discuss the poverty line, uneducated people and the area from where Dashrath Manjhi belongs, not even understanding the meaning of freedom… Here we are showing the present generation bore well, imaginative love which was hard to accept. In long period of time I was only impressed with Masaan movie's dialogue which has authentic Bihari (Magdhi) tone similarly Manjhi belongs to very remote area,doesn’t have a right tone to speak “Magdhi”, what a farce…? Really I mean, it’s a most pathetic attempt to tell the story of The Legend…  

Nawazuddin Siddiqui was unclear about the fact weather he wants to portray himself as a Hero of the film or simply passionate Dashrath Manjhi, Radhika Apte fails to deliver the act even struggled to speak language, she only succeeded as sensual feminine.In other actors, Tigmanshu is cold, Ashraf over did but Pankaj Tripathi again did  a rememberable role.  

I must say this story has all the strength to win foreign accolades even win the Oscar but sorry Mr. Mehta you failed to understand the layers of emotion and after independence,poor India. Before making this film you should have watched some Shyam Benegal films…