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In 1993, the film 'Tiranga' celebrated silver jubilee at nine centres -Mehul Kumar, director

32 years ago on the occasion of Republic Day, on 29 January 1993, writer and director Mehul Kumar's film 'Tiranga' was released. Starting his banner 'MK Pictures'

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By Bollyy
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film 'Tiranga' celebrated silver jubilee at nine centres -Mehul Kumar, director
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BY SHANTISWAROOP TRIPATHI

32 years ago on the occasion of Republic Day, on 29 January 1993, writer and director Mehul Kumar's film 'Tiranga' was released. Starting his banner 'MK Pictures' from scratch, Mehul Kumar himself produced 'Tiranga' with this film. Before this, he had produced, written and directed 18 super duper Gujarati films under this banner. But 'Tiranga' was his first Hindi film to be made under this banner. The film had many famous actors including Nana Patekar and Raj Kumar. Made in just seventy lakh rupees, the film 'Tiranga' spread its magic in such a way that for the last 32 years, every 15th August and 26th January, this film has become a must to be shown on many channels including Doordarshan. People are seen humming its dialogues and songs including 'Ye Aan Tiranga...'. You had made many patriotic films including 'Jungbaaz'. In such a situation, how did the story of 'Tiranga' come to your mind?

- After producing, writing and directing eighteen Gujarati films, I was directing Hindi films. But I was making these films for other producers. In 1992, it came to my mind that I should also make a film in Hindi under my banner. Then I thought why should I not make the first patriotic film in Hindi under my banner. Because by then people had stopped making patriotic films after Manoj Kumar. But I wanted to make such a film in the name of patriotism, which is contemporary and has such issues in it, which can be talked about at any time. It should also have family values. So that every viewer can connect with the film and the spirit of patriotism is also born in them. Apart from this, I wanted to make this film of mine with Raj Kumar. In such a situation, the topic had to be such that Raj Kumar would not say anything. This is how the idea of making 'Tiranga' came to mind.

In those days, there were situations of terrorism and cold war between India and Pakistan. Pakistan was sending terrorists to our country. This trend is still going on in some form or the other. After a lot of thinking, I decided that a dangerous villain is setting an example, which he wants to leave on India during the flag hoisting ceremony on 15th August, i.e. on the day of independence of the country. Keeping this in mind, I wrote the story and dialogues of 'Tiranga', threading all the situations of that time.

While making the first Hindi film under your banner, what made you choose veteran actors like Raj Kumar and Nana Patekar instead of making it in a low budget?

-Look, no film is small or big on the basis of actors. Secondly, the budget of every film should be in accordance with its story. Secondly, in those days, no artist used to ask for a lot of money like today. I used to complete every film of mine in just six months. 'Tiranga' was also made within six months. How did you select the actors for 'Tiranga'?

  • Till that time I had only Raj Kumar's name in mind. Apart from him, three new actors were finalised. So I had given a three page advertisement in Screen newspaper. Raj Kumar was on the first page, three new boys on the second page and a police inspector on the third page, the name of the actor was not finalised. People used to ask who is this actor? I used to clearly say that the name is not finalised. Because at that time Raj Kumar was so feared that no actor was ready to work with him. I first went to Madras and narrated this story to Rajinikanth. The character in the film is also named after him, Shivaji Rao Wagle. Rajinikanth liked the story, but when I told him that the second character is being played by Raj Kumar, he said that it is difficult to work with Raj Kumar. Then I narrated it to Naseeruddin Shah, and he also refused citing the same reason. After that I talked to Nana Patekar, he said that I do art films. I am not interested in commercial films. I told him that if you do commercial films then you will be known all over the world. In those days, art films were only available from Bandra to Borivali. Then he said that you have a strong story. I said you listen. It is a strong story. Nana Patekar heard the story. He liked the story, dialogues and his character very much. He agreed to work. But the condition was that if Raj Kumar creates any problem on the set, I will leave the set. I will not come to the set again. I told him that this is my third film with Raj Kumar, he does not say anything on the set. There is no interference from his side. We did the Muhurta of the film with great pomp. On the day of Muhurta, a big producer director said to me, 'You complete the film in six months, may God make your tricolor fly high. But this film of mine was also completed in six months. There was no problem during the shooting. Initially, Nana Patekar and Raj Kumar used to stay away from each other, but after we filmed the song "Pee Le Pee Le O Mere Raja..." on them, they became very good friends. The film became a super duper hit.

Where was the flag hoisting climax filmed?
- We had set up the set in Film City. And we wanted to shoot at the military camp in Kalina, Mumbai, and we could get the missiles from there, but that was not possible. They had given us the photo of the missile, looking at which our art director made an example. An army officer had guided us. He was also at the shooting. After the shooting was over, we gave that missile to the Santacruz military camp, which was kept there for a long time, I don't know if it is there now. They had kept all the three missiles in the garden there.

All the actors in our film worked wholeheartedly. Rakhee's character was amazing. Raksha Bandhan song on him- “Ise samjho na resham ka taar bhaiya...” Actually at that time every artist was full of patriotism, so whatever was inside them, it was easy for all of them to bring it on screen.

Why did you call Santosh Anand from Lucknow to write the songs for the film?
- The music director of the film was Laxmikant Pyarelal. He himself suggested that Santosh Anand should be asked to write the songs. He had stopped writing songs for films and had gone back to Lucknow. He used to write songs for Manoj Kumar’s films. I took the number from Laxmikant and called Santosh Anand, then he said that he does not write for films. I said that the name of my film is ‘Tiranga’ and we want you to write the songs. Anyway, on hearing the name of the film, he agreed to write the songs. He came to Mumbai. Stayed in Mumbai for eight days. He asked for the script of the film and read it. Then we had a long discussion about the situation of every song. He went back after writing all the songs in eight days. And every song is a hit. After 'Tiranga' he did not write songs for any of his films.

How many days did the film 'Tiranga' run?
-This film was a silver jubilee release in nine centres. It created records of success everywhere. This film was also a hit in the South.

We heard that you had cast a new artist Shirke for the villain Genda Swami in the film, so Nana Patekar and Raj Kumar did not like it?
-It was not a matter of liking or not liking it. They believed that the villain should also be stronger than them. Both of them had said that you are taking a new artist as the villain. Then I had said that he is not inferior in acting. I have seen his acting in a play. Besides, as per the name of the character, he looks like Genda too. After that when we worked together, Raj Kumar also praised his acting. In 32 years, have you ever thought of remaking or making a sequel to 'Tiranga'?

Many people have asked me to do this... I have to pay attention to everything, including the script for 'Tiranga'. Well, now I have prepared the script to remake 'Tiranga'. Nana Patekar has also agreed to act in it. But this time I will only write and direct, I am not going to produce it. Talks are going on with some people who will produce it.

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