'Filming Netaji was a challenge'

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is an icon like no other. It is believed that he is the only one free of any kind of blemish, unalloyed by any compromise in his fight for India''s independence. There are several reasons, some real, some imagined for this special iconic status. <br /><br />An important reason, which is not entirely rational, is the continuing belief, even in remote villages of India, that Netaji is not dead.He simply disappeared. With disappearance there is always hope and promise of return. In popular imagination this is an extremely potent premise and a fertile ground for conspiracy theories. Until the Justice Mukherji Commission comes out with its final verdict, the mystery of ‘disappearance'' will continue to hold a substantial section of population in thrall. <br /><br />Secondly, the enduring and iconic status is because he alone among all the national leaders under the Congress umbrella at that time, fully articulated an alternate means to win India''s freedom that he put into practice after being expelled from the Congress. <br /><br />Dealing with an icon like Netaji is like negotiating a minefield. There is the man and there is the myth. For his devotees, mythology takes precedence over history. As for his critics, their ideological considerations tend to obscure and confuse historical facts and motivations of that time. The strategy and tactics he adopted have been subject of considerable debate and some controversy both within and outside India. <br /><br />The story of my film, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Bose — The Forgotten Hero</span>, deals with the period when Netaji entirely came into his own and decided to chase a near impossible dream, alone. The period I have chosen to depict is the five years in Netaji''s life from 1941 to 1945 when the world was at war.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />This journey is a quest, literally, figuratively and metaphorically. Driven by faith, he travels the breath of India eluding his British captors and makes his way through Afghanistan, Central Asia and Soviet Union to arrive in Berlin. <br /><br />Two years later, he is in South East Asia after a long eventful journey in a German U boat crossing two seas and three oceans. Here he takes charge of the Indian National Army consisting of Indian prisoners of war and Indian expatriates living in East Asia to battle with the British. In this battle, there are great successes and mighty failures. <br /><br />His army succeeds in planting the National flag on Indian Territory, but eventually, Japan''s surrender signals the end of his campaign. <br /><br />He disbands his Army and flies to an unknown destination to renew his battle another time, another day. Obviously the story is of an epic adventure. Each step he takes is a hurdle he must cross; the odds constantly multiplying against him. Unknown perhaps to him, his actions created a serious dent in the colonial edifice. <br /><br />This is a story suitable for cinema. But the logistics of making such a film were enormous. <br /><br />To follow Netaji on his journey meant shooting the film in various locations and constructing sets in different parts of India. Casting was another problem area, especially casting of Netaji was crucial. <br /><br />Eight months and 49 auditions later, I found the actor who has played him in the film. At the end of it all, we hope we have been true to his memory. </div> </div>