On a brief visit to the capital, director Nagraj Manjule — in a free-flowing discussion — tells Saimi Sattar about his latest venture Jhund and the way outsiders in the film industry as well as OTT are influencing content
Sitting in a plush hotel’s 20th floor, where one wall is partially made of glass, Nagraj Manjule has been scripting a quiet success story. It is reflected in the view outside where JCBs and cranes are laying to waste the old power centres to establish the foundation of their version of a shiny new India but the sound of the frenzied activity doesn't reach our perch. Manjule, in his way, has been chipping away at the film industry’s established power centres.
In an incongruous yellow checked half-sleeved shirt, he looks much at ease; his salt and pepper beard giving him an air of solemnity befitting a National Award-winning director who is just out with Jhund starring the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan. The director is about to head out for lunch but prefers to settle down for a chat. He specifies that he prefers to answer the questions in Hindi before settling in across the table.
“When the concept came to me and I researched it for two-three months, met people and, then, realised that I should do this film. Sometimes people approach you and ask, ‘whether you will do it’? And the other part is, ‘if I can do it’. I thought about it in both ways and realised that I should do it,” he says. Manjule then approached Bachchan, narrated the story to him, which he liked and agreed
to do.
Jhund tells the story of 50-100 people who stay in slums and play football. “When I was trying to understand why I should do it, I realised that it was the first time that someone from outside had narrated a story which was in my heart. It seemed to be my story and, so, I had to do it,” says Manjule.
This naturally makes one wonder as to how much inspiration does Manjule draw from his life…