Monday, April 26, 2010

Political thought ignited by Rajneeti

Politics, especially in India, is one such topic on which making a film is an extremely difficult task. Actually, politics isn’t just about governing but it also encompasses various aspects of human behavior like greed, power, hate, oppression etc. Encapsulating all these emotions in a two and a half hour film wasn’t an easy task, but Prakash Jha’s Rajneeti has not just tried to explore these complex emotions but has also tried to dwell deeper into politics.

Through this film I once again got to understand our country’s politics. I’ll talk about the film first. When Prakash Jha called me to do Rajneeti, I had numerous apprehensions regarding the film. Making a serious and commercial film on politics wasn’t an easy task after all. But the way he portrayed his life’s experience as a director, as a social servant, as a person and as a knowledge holder of politics on screen, the effort is truly commendable. In the movie, the viewers will have a glimpse of some characters from the epic Mahabharat. These characters will be seen tangled in conflicts and duality in the film. Working in this film was a beautiful experience; an experience that lives the dream of an actor both, on and off screen.
My purpose here is not to praise my movie, but I would like to mention here that everything went as planned and on schedule. I would like to give an example in support. To make a crowd sequence look real, a crowd of about ten thousand people was gathered in Bhopal. Training them and taking care of them went so smoothly that thinking of it now I hardy believe that everything was accomplished easily. Later, I got to know that this huge group of ten thousand people was actually trained for about 8 months before the actual shooting. Today when I am done with my film’s dubbing I feel that I have done something big and consequential.

During the making of Rajneeti, I found myself surrounded with political characters, and that’s when some political thinking in me began which questioned why India’s polity has steeped so low? Is India’s politics progressing towards its goal? Why do the politicians find it difficult to connect with the masses? And why are they not uncomfortable being accused of scams and scandals? Do we common people not want some extreme changes to happen in the present day political system?

But in the end, it’s not about the politicians or the politics; it’s about the common people. Democracy has rendered common people with a very strong weapon which has the power to bend even the hardest of politicians. And that weapon is VOTE. The problem is that the common people for their self motives let themselves get cheated in the hands of these politicians and they don’t even realize something like this happening. Or they sometimes do but they choose to sit silently and do nothing about it. The present system has made the citizens passive, which should be changed. People don’t want to change the system, they want to be a part of it and that’s where the problem lies.

While shooting for the film, I also thought whether or not the film would be effective in reflecting an image to the politicians. Would the masses be able to learn about the political tactics often used by politicians? If Rajneeti is able to do so, I’ll be a proud person. But if people refuse to see the meaning behind the film, why should the film only be blamed for not being able to bring a change in the society? I think, Rajneeti will do its work; it’ll entertain people, make them cry, make them laugh and importantly, make them understand. Rajneeti will make the viewers question those things that they either missed out of ignorance or couldn’t understand themselves. But the willingness to understand would totally depend on them. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to know. From my experience as an actor I can only say that this film would be the first film ever to deeply question politics in India.

Well, It's enough for now...I think

It's your's and only your's
Manoj Bajpayee

26 comments:

SHASHI YADAV said...

thanks

SHASHANK KUMAR said...

Hai Manoj
Still you are social!
sorry.I thinked that invornment of Film & Mumbai had changed you
very very very thanks for your social thinking

विधायक सोम प्रकाश said...

THANKS

Unknown said...

Hai Uncle,
My parents has seen your film SHOOL both my mother & father are impressed to your role.
My father Sri Som Prakash Singh is Sub-Inspector of Police in Bihar Police & posted as S.H.O.Kadirganj P.S. in Patna Distt

Unknown said...

Hai Uncle,
I have seen your film SHOOL With my parenys. Both my mother & father are impressed to your role.
My father Sri Som Prakash Singh is Sub-Inspector of Police in Bihar Police & posted as S.H.O.Kadirganj P.S. in Patna Distt
His work style is just like as Police Inspector Samar Pratap Singh the role played by you in film SHOOL
Once again I want to see this type of film in which a Police Officer is fighting against System.May you suggest me about that type of film

Unknown said...

Hi & Hello to you,

Thank you very much for sending this write up on Rajneeti. After
reading this article I feel that the film is a must see and I will
definitely watch the movie.

In your write up you have mentioned that VOTE is the only weapon, but
is that so ? Do we the common mass of people always have the right
candidate to choose. I myself did not vote last election because I was
fully confused whom to vote. All the candidates are so same in the
character. I think it will take another decade in India to give birth
to new brand of politicians who will actually think for the betterment
of their assigned job, i.e. betterment of the country. The process may
have already begun, but still a long way to go.

Once again thanks & please keep sending your blog posts.

Soma

Unknown said...

Thank's For Bihar

Rajnikant George said...

First i would like to say All the best for your Movie....
our great exception with Mr. Praksah Jha and you because both of u belong to west Champaran Bettiah Dist. and first time working together.
no dough movie will entertain and leave great impact to public.
public also aware about the power of democracy,voting right etc
So All the best .......
Rajnikant George

विधायक सोम प्रकाश said...

1. मानव है हम है दानव भी
कब कैसा रूप दिखा बैठें
इतिहास के पिछले पन्नों पर
अपना अधिकार जमा पैठें ।
पुरस्कार की अभिलाषा ना
जीत की मन में हो आशा
करतब मानव के हों ऐसे

Kamakhya Narayan Singh said...

bhaiya i watched Rajneeti, aap ne to kamal kar diya......g8 work dada

neeraj chhabra said...

I saw rajniti on this friday. It was a great movie. your acting was also good. you always acts well. star cast and story were great in this movie.after a long time, i saw a different film.

Sanjay Chandak said...

We are based in the Netherlands and we got to chance to see this movie today evening with my family as we are very excited to see this movie because there are couple of reasons, first this movie was shoot in Bhopal (and we are based from Bhopal, we migrated to the Netherlands few years ago).2 We watch your every movie (one of our favorite is shool (again some part shoot in bhopal.) so you are our Hero. Well we like your acting and your are superb in this movie too. so keep it up and we shall wait for your new movie soon. Also update your travel plan if is there for the Netherlands in the near future.

Thanks and good luck.
Sanjay Chandak
The Netherlands.

vedant1990 said...

manoj bajpai...ure performance was simply outstanding...i think aamir khan should learn what attention to detail means from ure acting...i consider rajneeti as one of your best performances...
thanks for a gripping 3 hour journey...

addictionofcinema said...

Manoj ji
you have done a splendid job in Rajneeti, I mus appreciate the brilliance of Prakash who have pulled out the best from several actors including Arjun but your role and your homework seems when you stretch the words in some scenes...brilliant acting and i must say this has done by a deep homework of the character you have portrayed

Unknown said...

Hi Manoj,
Congratulations for all the accolades u got for the film Rajneeti. Great work keep it up, looking forward for more good films from u. God bless.

Dr. Sunil
Mumbai.

Tushu said...

Hi Manoj,

This is my first time on your Blog, Please respond.

Warm regards, Tushu

Raju kumar said...

Dear Bhaiya
I am Raju Kumar from Boston,USA and i like your all the movies and your acting, for me you are my greatest star of bollywood, i really like you very much and your all movie and acting,
Sincerely
Raju Kumar
138 Summer St
Somerville,MA 02143
USA

Anurag said...

Sir, today i saw your telugu movie Vedam, your part was awesome, thanks for such great performance. though i am not a telugu speaking person still i was able to understand the whole movie as ARTS knows no langauage... you have proved it again..... Thanks sir...

Oracle Applications Techno Functional said...

Hi Manoj Sir,

Many Many Congratulations for Rajneeti success!!!

Me and my family are a great fan of yours.

Infact Many years back much before Satya while me and my elder brother were watching Swabhimaan serial , we could not take our eyes away while watching you act and since then we never miss anything to read or watch regarding you.

We feel so good when we hear or read praises about you or any news of you accepting a good role in a new movie.

We wish you all the best and may god bless you with enormous success and divinity.

All the very Best Sir,
Neeraj

bholesh said...

MANOJ BHAIYA
NAMASKAR,
APKI RAJNEETI 3 BAAR DEKH CHUKA HU,PATKATHA TO BAHUT KARISHMAI NAHI HAI PARANTU AAPKE AUR AJAY DEVGAN JI KE ABHINAY NE ANDAR TAK HILA KAR RAKH DIYA..AUR SHAYAD VO HI TAKAT HAI HO MERE KADMO KO BAR BAR PARDE TAK LE JATI HAI AUR BHI LE JAYEGI...TATHAKATHIT AAPKA ROLE MAHABHARAT KE DURYODHAN SE PRERIT HOTA HAI JO KI KHALNAYAK KA PARICHAYAK HAI PHIR BHI "VIRENDRA PRATAP" YOGYATA RAKHTE HUE BHI UNDEKHI AUR PAKSHPAAT KI PIDA ME HOTE HAI JO KI UNKE KHALNAYAK KIRDAAR KO LAYAK KIRDAAR SE BAHUT UPAR RAKHTI HAI APNE APNE ABHINAY SE US BHUMIKA KE SATH 100% NYAN KIYA HAI HAR PAL APKE ABHINAY NE KHALNAYAK HONE KE BAVJUD BHI LAYAK HONE KA AHSAAS KARAYA JO SIRF AUR SIRF AAP HI KAR SAKTE HAI..AUR JAANE ANJANE MUJHE “VIRENDRA PRATAP” SE PYAR HO GAYA JISKI JAD ME SWABHAVIK ROOP SE “MANOJ BAJPAI” HI HAI.
“KARARA JAWAB MILEGA” VAH KYA ANDAAZ HAI MANOJ BHAIYA….

BAHUT BAHUT BADHAIYA...!

APKA
BHOLESH SHRIVASTAVA
INDORE (M.P.)

Unknown said...

Hi Manoj,
Great man i dont think actor other than you cud play role like you did in Rajneeti ...superb ...keep it up

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PaU said...

Hi...Just wanna say you are perfectly suit in negative role like as ROAD movie.I hope you consider me and all your fans...

SHASHANK KUMAR said...

HAI UNCLE,
I WANT TO PLAY A LITTLE ROLE IN YOUR FILM