‘Mitti na pharol…’ highlights impact of post-Partition politics

Tribune news Service

Amritsar, May 4

Being famous in Bollywood can be tricky to handle, especially when your debut film has big names and goes on to win national award. Ask 14-year-old actor Japtej Singh and he surprises you with his humility. The young ‘Milkha’ from “Bhaag Milkha bhaag” says he is just another average teenager, who struggles to balance life, when he is not picking up some intense films.

The actor is making a debut in Punjabi cinema with a period drama “Mitti na pharol jogiya”, which based on the post-Partition era. The film has been directed by Avtar Singh. Japtej was in the city to promote his film along with actor Kartar Cheema recently. Here too Japtej is set to surprise everyone with his acting prowess.

“Japtej is the hero of the film, as a boy who wants to fight to know the truth about his family. It is the first time that a film centres on a child actor,” said Avtar Singh. But for Japtej, the fact that he learnt from the best matters most. “Anurag Basu sir was the mentor for the film. In ‘Bhaag Milkha bhaag’, Rakeysh (Omprakash Mehra) sir and Farhan (Akhtar) sir were my mentors and this time I took notes from Anurag Basu sir and my director Avtar sir. The situation sounds like a first standard school student learning from a top-grade university professors,” said the excited actor.

He says he is lucky to get a great start in both Bollywood and Polywood. Japtej is also focused on his education and wants to complete a degree before taking up acting full time. On the sets he did have fun. He says, “I felt at home on the sets. Being the youngest, I was the most pampered actor and character. Since I am just a learner, this film gave me too much to note down in my acting lessons.”

The film releases worldwide on May 8. It is a historical drama, which shows the impact of post Indo-Pak partition politics on many families on both sides of the border. The film has been produced by Ram Sidhu and Avtar Singh is the personality behind the story, screenplay and direction.

One of the lead actors Kartar Cheema was so excited about the film that he feels reincarnated as a human as well as an actor. Amann Grewal, Master Japtej Singh, Rupinder Rupi, Sanju Solanki, Razia Sukhbir, Damanpreet and Navdeep Kaler are among the other main actors of the film.

The USP of the film is that it has been mentored by Bollywood director Anurag Basu, who happens to be the driving force behind director Avtar Singh throughout the project.

Producer Ram Sidhu calls it an achievement. He said, “The warmth we are getting everywhere is driving us forward. People are eager to see a change in Punjabi cinema. We have tried really hard to bring that change with this film.” Nodding to this director Avtar Singh said, “Everyone welcomes change. I worked as a production head in Bollywood super hit ‘Barfii’, when I learnt to be conscious about pre-production from Anurag sir. We planned the film for getting the positivity before the release.”