‘Raag Desh’— a peep into freedom struggle

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 19

“Democracy has taken roots because it’s not been taught in classrooms. During the pre-independence era when a majority of our countrymen were illiterate, films during that time played an important role as a communicator and ‘Raag Desh’ too was made keeping this fact in mind,” said Gurdeep Singh Sappal, CEO, Rajya Sabha TV, while talking about the essence of the first-ever movies made by any public broadcaster in the country.

While speaking to The Tribune on the sidelines of an enthralling fashion show, ‘Raag Desh’, put up by students of Lovely Professional University, here, today, Sappal said the movie was based on the life of three heroes of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) — namely Major General Shahnawaz Khan, Col Prem K Sehgal and Col Gurbax Singh Dhillon, who became the torchbearers of the Indian freedom struggle. Mohit Marwah, Amit Sadh and Kunal Kapoor have played the roles of the three heroes.

“We want to connect the present generation with their roots built strongly on the supreme sacrifices made by such brave hearts. Rajya Sabha TV as a government broadcaster has made an endeavour to promote India’s glorious history by depicting their lives through movies,” said Sappal.

He said besides ‘Raag Desh’, Rajya Sabha TV is also planning to produce two more movies which would be based on the consolidation of over 562 states into India during the Independence and also on the evolution and upgrade of the Indian Army since the Independence.

When asked why have you made the movie a commercial entity, he said: “Though we have planned to show the movie free of cost across all cinemas, it did not materialise as they do charge for tickets. However, if people are buying tickets of museums to have a look back at our history, they should also buy cinema tickets to watch ‘Raag Desh’,” said Sappal.

The film is a period drama, based on the Indian National Army set up by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the war to liberate India from the Britishers which was fought on the shores of the Irrawaddy in Burma.

The British Government called the soldiers of the INA “renegades and Japanese stooges”, and a trial was held at the Red Fort in Delhi, which was called the Red Fort Trials of 1945. ‘Raag Desh’ brings to life that epic trials which paved the way for India’s freedom.

I felt ashamed of my ignorance, says Kunal Kapoor

“Though I heard a little about the INA during my schooldays, I felt ashamed on my ignorance over such glorious past weaved by our great heroes. The first thing that came to my mind was why such stories of emotional saga were not told before,” said actor Kunal Kapoor.

While throwing more light over the life of Maj Gen Shahnawaz khan whom he had portrayed in the movies, Kunal said according to archive records, Gen Khan had around 80 close relatives serving in the British army and knowing that he might have to face them during the pre-Independence struggle, he joined the INA.

“Though he hailed from an affluent family and a secured future, he decided to jump into the freedom struggle and fought till his last breath,” said Kunal.

‘Raag Desh’ is song of country, says actor Mohit

When asked as to why the movie has been named ‘Raagdesh’, actor Mohit Marwah, who has played the role of Col Prem Sehgal, said the name had been given to depict the ‘Raag’ (song) of the ‘Desh’ (country) which was to gain independence. Mohit said though the movie was based on a historical event, it had drama, entertainment and action which would make it a huge success.

Red Fort trials: The background

The Indian National Army trials (INA trials), or the Red Fort trials, were the British Indian trials by court-martial of a number of officers of the Indian National Army (INA) between November 1945 and May 1946, for charges variously for treason, torture, murder and abetment to murder during the World War II. The first, and the most famous, of the approximately 10 trials was held in the Red Fort in Delhi, hence they are also known as the “Red Fort trials”.