Savarkar Must Be Seen In Context Of His Times, Says Randeep Hooda

Nagpur: Actor Randeep Hooda on Saturday said historical figures like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar must be understood in the context of their times, stressing that storytelling should balance research with contemporary relevance. Speaking at an interactive session on day two of the Nagpur Film Festival (NFF), Hooda said Savarkar was "a man of contradictions" whose ideas and writings reflected the circumstances of his era, adding that portraying such personalities requires depth and nuance.Hooda, who directed the movie ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' and also played the lead role, said the project emerged from a growing sense of anger and urgency to present a more nuanced understanding of the freedom fighter. He described Savarkar as a significant social reformer and influencer, noting that much of his work, particularly in Marathi. remains less accessible at the national level."Initially, I had said no to the film, but then I started reading about him. I made Savarkar in anger. People don't really know much about such a towering figure and often reduce him to social media labels," Hooda said, adding that the film was his attempt to present a more researched and layered perspective despite being advised against taking it up.The session also turned to the power of cinematic narratives, with Hooda drawing comparisons between global and Indian storytelling. He said countries like the United States have successfully built strong national narratives through cinema, often shaping global perceptions. "We end up believing those narratives because they are consistently speak about their governance, army, law and order everything," he said, urging Indian filmmakers to create stories that resonate universally while reflecting the country's own cultural and social realities.Calling for a more cohesive approach within the industry, Hooda said, "Hollywood works collectively to establish its narrative, while Bollywood often remains divided in fighting narratives among ownself." He emphasised that Indian films should move beyond internal debates and focus on telling compelling stories that connect with audiences across borders.Addressing young filmmakers, Hooda underlined that accessibility to filmmaking has improved, with even short-form content like vertical reels emerging as a powerful storytelling tool. He encouraged creators to document local culture, traditions and untold stories, noting that not every narrative requires a full-length feature film.Discussions at the festival also focused on filmmaking in the digital age. Actor-director Yogesh Soman said that while smartphones have made filmmaking more accessible, creating meaningful cinema still requires structured training and an understanding of audience engagement. He emphasised that content must be shaped keeping viewer behaviour in mind, noting that format and presentation are as crucial as the story itself.Music composer Shreyas Puranik highlighted the growing role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in enhancing creative output, while maintaining that human creativity remains central to filmmaking. Speakers also pointed to expanding opportunities across roles in the industry, stressing that adaptability and hands-on experience are key for newcomers navigating a rapidly changing cinematic landscape.BOX:Work Order Issued for Ramtek Film City: JaiswalMinister of State Ashish Jaiswal said work order has been issued for the proposed film city at Ramtek. "The Mahakavi Kulguru Kalidas Film City is set to position Vidarbha as a filmmaking hub. The state will also back a film on Kalidas," he said noting that cinema can help revive cultural narratives at a time when reading habits are declining.On lack of infrastructure in the region, Jaiswal said filmmakers from Vidarbha often migrate to Mumbai. "Training institutes are being planned alongside the project," he said. He also pointed to OTT platforms as new opportunities for regional creators.