Bringing war to life

Jasmine Singh

A British contingent comprising 21 Sikhs of the 36th Sikh Regiment stationed at an army post in Saragarhi is attacked by nearly 10,000 Afghan Pashtuns. These soldiers, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, chose to fight to death. This is all that most of us have known about the Battle of Saragarhi that took place in 1897.

Even though every year on September 12, the historic day is commemorated in  gurdwaras in Amritsar and Ferozepore, the battle has largely remained unknown. However, not anymore since as many as four filmmakers have taken fascination to the forgotten battle and have announced films based on the epic battle! Raj Kumar Santoshi is coming out with Randeep Hooda-starrer Battle Of Saragarhi. Then there is Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaars 2, Karan Johar and Salman Khan’s, Akshay Kumar-starrer, untitled project, which will be directed by Punjabi filmmaker Anurag Singh, while Punjabi director Rohit Jugraj’s project will star Sanjay Dutt. So, what makes this battle of valour and courage so much sought after and why is there a sudden interest in the story of the 21 Sikhs?

Filmmaker Rohit Jugraj, who has been researching this subject since 2008, says this soul-stirring story awaits justice. “I have met the families of the martyred soldiers; many of them are living in extreme poverty so much so that they had to sell of the medals. This is what shook me. The Battle of Saragarhi is a battle of courage. It is important for our youth to know about this forgotten battle.”

Jugraj, who has written the screenplay for Players and directed Punjabi films like Jatt James Bond, Sardaarji 1 and Sardaarji 2, was to cast Sanjay Dutt in the lead role when the project had to be stalled after the actor was sentenced to prison. The director is once again all set to bring the story of 21 Sikhs alive on screen.

According to filmmaker Anurag Singh, who is directing the film under Dharma Productions and Salman Khan Production house, feels that Saragarhi was a battle that speaks volumes of courage and bravery. “To any filmmaker, this is indeed an ideal subject for a film. A subject like this is capable of arousing so many emotions. This, however, is the case with all  epic battles that bear the mark of sacrifice, bravery, daringness that stirs various emotions. This is similar to Hollywood film 300, which had a connect with Indians as well as non-Indians.”

Screenplay writer Ravinder Randhawa, who wrote a script on the subject in 2012 along with Rohit Jugraj, calls this shift to Saragarhi as a new fascination for filmmakers in Mumbai. “I think everyone wants to make a 300 in Hindi. However, they are likely to reduce the episode to an India-Pakistan war focusing only on the 21 soldiers or just the bravery.” According to Ravinder, “The subject has a historical and political aspect to it as well. It raises many questions that we have included in our script.”

Whether it is the sentiments that war movies manage to evoke or whether it is the realistic treatment that compels the audience to think about war, war movies undeniably make for a good subject. No wonder Hollywood has been obsessed with the subject of Second World War. 

Director Raj Kumar Santoshi is already shooting for Battle of Saragarhi starring Randeep Hooda. “The battle is recognised by Unesco as one of the finest examples of human courage and sacrifice in the line of duty. This epitome of human courage and bravery needs to be shown on screen,” says Rahul Mittra,  CEO Wave Cinemas, which is producing the film.