'Satyameva Jayate' is a masala entertainer packed with high drama, action and a message

This Independence Day will see the release of 'Satyameva Jayate', a film that has a message at its core apart from being an-out-and-out entertainer. Written and directed by Milap Milan Zaveri, it stars John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee and also marks the debut of model-turned-actress Aisha Sharma.
Also Read: Satyameva Jayate Movie Review
‘Fight Back’
Talking about why he gave his nod to the film, John says, “I accepted the film, because I loved the script.Organically, I reacted as an audience because I was moved by the story. Whether I am tearing a tyre or beating up a cop in the film, these are symbolic ways of showcasing that one shouldn’t tolerate corruption. It’s a message that I am trying to convey to the younger generation. The message that is being sent out is, ‘Don’t tolerate a corrupt policeman and don’t tolerate an entitled rich kid who runs over 40 people; fight back’. That doesn’t mean that you fight back by tearing a tyre. The film addresses subjects like corruption, crime against women and other glaring issues in our society today.”
Aisha’s double delight
For Aisha, sharing screen space with both John and Manoj were the high points of shooting for the film. She reveals, “The best part about working with John is that no one is going to tell me how tall I am, because he is so tall (laughs!). Jokes apart, as a co-star, he makes you feel at ease. I was never made to feel like a newcomer. Manoj sir (Bajpayee) has the most wacky sense of humour off screen, so it’s a delight to work with him. To get a chance to share the screen with Manoj sir in your first film is a big deal. I wasn’t intimidated, though. It was exciting to work with both of them. They didn’t make me feel like it was my first film.”
‘Talks about corruption’
Drawing attention to the fact that instead of intellectualising major issues in the country, the film tries to put across a message within the framework of a commercial Hindi film, Manoj states, “Satyameva Jayate' talks about corruption and is set in the mainstream space. It’s not really about intellectual debates, it’s more commercial — more single screen and massy.”
‘Don’t be corrupt’
Milap Zaveri, who has helmed comedies in the past and has also penned screenplays and dialogues for a slew of commercial films, also reveals the reasons for making 'Satyameva Jayate'. He says, “There was a lot of anger inside me about the way the system is functioning. Every cop is not corrupt, but in every sphere, there are good apples and bad apples. The law enforcers have a huge responsibility and if they start breaking the law, the common man will also follow suit. 'Satyameva Jayate' stemmed from my anger towards society in general and towards myself for not doing something responsible as a filmmaker. This film has a strong message and it is about following the path of truth. The characters played by John and Manoj too, want the same thing, but their paths are different. The basic message is, ‘Don’t be corrupt’. Despite being a cop drama, it’s different from 'Ardh Satya', 'Singham' and 'Dabangg' because there is a big twist in the plot.”
‘A thriller with knockout performances’
Producer Bhushan Kumar also adds, “With Satyameva Jayate, joint producer Nikkhil Advani and we at T-Series go back to the old genre of pure, masala entertainers, packed with a dose of high drama and action. Milap packs a punch, and expands his oeuvre by directing a thriller where John and Manoj have delivered knockout performances, befitting this genre of filmmaking. I am positive that the film will be liked by the audience across.”
Meanwhile, co-producer Nikkhil Advani says, “Very rarely can you rely on a person so much that all you need to do is ask him to come on board as a partner and he does so without batting an eyelid. I’m grateful that my relationship with Bhushanji and T-Series has reached that juncture. Furthermore, the faith that we have in each other is evident in the collaboration of SMJ with the tent poles of music, action and drama being the fruit of this partnership. T-Series has evolved into a studio and has successfully moved from being just the biggest music company in India. I’m glad to call it my
second home.”
'Satyameva Jayate', produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Emmay Entertainment, releases on August 15.