https://myvoice.opindia.com/2019/04/here-is-why-the-book-urban-naxals-is-a-must-read-especially-for-the-parents-of-young-children/
I saw the movie "Buddha In a Traffic Jam". I understood what was being implied in the movie. However, for me and millions others not enjoying the proximity, geographically and ideologically, of the traditional naxal movement, it was fiction. It was a movie, watched with the motive of entertainment and escapism. Maybe it was not an entertaining movie. It was dark, but it was still a movie. It contained fictional facts and half truths; and there are always dramatizations and exaggerations in the name of creative license.
I saw the movie "Buddha In a Traffic Jam". I understood what was being implied in the movie. However, for me and millions others not enjoying the proximity, geographically and ideologically, of the traditional naxal movement, it was fiction. It was a movie, watched with the motive of entertainment and escapism. Maybe it was not an entertaining movie. It was dark, but it was still a movie. It contained fictional facts and half truths; and there are always dramatizations and exaggerations in the name of creative license.
Now almost a year after
the book was released, I read "Urban Naxals", authored by "Vivek
Agnihotri" and published by "Garuda Prakashan". It is the
author’s first book. The book chronicles the inspiration, conceptualisation, creation
and screenings of the movie.
One might wonder what
possibly can a book about the making of a movie have to offer? What was not
already not known? There cannot be a more fallacious thought. The book has its
own merits. It is not merely about the journey of movie; it is also about the
journey of the author. Any person who has struggled, failed, improvised, felt
defeated, challenged, overcame challenges, felt elated, survived, given their
all to achieve their goal will relate to his journey. Most importantly it is
also the journey of the till now uncoined concept of "Urban Naxal".
This book is a must read
to comprehend the modus operandi of the Urban Naxals and their impact and
influence in every sphere of society. The book is divided into four parts.
The first part describes
how the author came to making a film like this. The diverse path taken by him
landed him in a position to be able to make this film. It describes his
struggles with financing and his unique approach to solve the issues he faced.
The most amazing part was how he created a hundred owners of the film.
Second part is about the
conceptualisation of the story. It delves into the author‘s sources, his
motivation, his own experiences, his brush with naxalsim when he was a student,
all of which contributed to adding to the nitty gritty details and new angles
to the story. When I read this part, I know it not be a half truth, as it has
verifiable facts- literally and in theory.
In the third part the
author narrates in detail how the story was written and the film made. It took
immense creative effort to design the
flow of narrative, frame by frame, chapter by chapter.
The fourth part
chronicles the film's screening, challenges faced at every screening and
subsequent success. After having been shelved, the film rises like a phoenix to
give sleepless nights to the naxal ecosystem. The events taking place all over
the country at the time corroborated the need for such a film and narrative.
People needed to be made aware of the narrative which has been vehemently
guarded till now.
The author is a famous
Bollywood director. However he does not use his position as an insider to
divulge the workings and gossips of Bollywood, which was a welcome surprise; as
one would assume that could have been a selling point for the book. All
Bollywood names mentioned have been mentioned in a matter of fact way, as they
have been a part of the author‘s, the film‘s and the "right"
narrative's journey. There was hardly any digression from the main theme of the
book, which is, how the movie with such theme and content was conceptualised,
created and conveyed.
The book is well
organized, written in easy to comprehend style. One can relate to and empathise
with the journey of the director-author. Despite the movie, the book also holds
on its own.
The movie might have come
and gone as an offbeat movie, had it not been for the herculean efforts of the
Urban Naxals mafia to ban the movie, to hinder its screenings; in general to
disrupt the propagation of any idea contrary to their own; do what they are
best at doing. As mentioned also in the book., traditionally the general idea
of any movie has been entertainment. Had it not been for the attention or
rather resistance the movie received, possibly it would have come and gone as a
fictional story which ruffled many feathers.
The book however
corroborates the movie by providing verifiable facts.
The book is also about
being true to oneself, being fearless and resilient, finding creative solutions
to difficult solutions.
Myself and million others
like me have been detached from the Urban Naxals. However, I have been awed
with their idealism, intellectualism, work ethic, community and reach. In my
eyes they were the superior class- idealistically and intellectually. On second
thoughts, if I looked up to them, how would I consider myself detached? I was
as much a potential target recruit as
anyone else. I could easily imagine myself to be impressed and influenced by
someone like the author‘s dramatics professor, just as the author was during
his university days; execept that I have been a million miles away from
dramatics and other extracurricular activities.
I recommend the book to
anyone who cares about their children. Children and youth have impressionable
idealistic minds; they might unknowingly get affiliated with the Urban Naxals.
A lot of the Urban Naxals seem to be lurking in and around universities and student activities. The book
is about how the movie was made, but also offers profound insights in about how
the Naxal network works. Invested as much as they are in their children’s life
and well-being, parents need to be as
much on watch regarding their ideological contamination.
I also recommend the book
to everyone to be inspired by the creative solutions in seemingly difficult
situations. When one wants to do something, there would be a way. One has to
find it, just as the author did. The journey might not be easy, might not make
sense now; but in the end it will be possible to connect the dots.
A film like "Buddha
in a Taffic Jam" was crying to be made and screened in these times. The
book on making of the movie, filling in the necessary details, was equally
essential.
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