Amar,Jaya step into Naxal world for a ‘meaningful’ role

“I needed the experience of an actor like Jaya Prada and the authenticity of a politician like Amar Singh to communicate the issue,” said Viswanathan,50,who was also the chairman of the jury for the non-feature film category at the 55th National Film Awards.

Sesh Sanghat is the story of a girl,Rajni (Jaya Prada) who is born in abject poverty. After she grows older,she is adopted by the mukhiya who is sympathetic to the cause of Naxals and uses her to carry out activities for them.

Revolving around issues like land ownership by adivasis and exploitation by landlords,Sesh Sanghat is a straightforward narrative about the plight of tribals in the poorest parts of the country.

Vishwanathan’s first film on Naxalism in 1994,Return to Zero dealt with the initial days of the Naxal uprising in the 70’s.

The film also stars Jackie Shroff,Victor Banerjee,Priyanshu Chatterjee,Raj Zutshi and Simone Singh.

While most of the shooting took place over the past one-and-a-half years in Purulia,Birbhum,Bankura,Midnapur and other districts of Bengal,Viswanathan said he initially had never intended to cast Amar Singh.

“I had consulted him for his knowledge on political links of landlords,exploitation of tribals and issue of multi-cropped land. But seeing his involvement in the script I offered him the role of the retired politician,Sinha Saab,and he agreed,” says Vishwanathan. Singh has a cameo role as the unofficial advisor to Shroff,a cop.

For Jaya Prada,the film is a departure from her stereotypical casting in Hindi cinema. “This role has offered me the scope to do meaningful cinema. Since I have worked as an MP from Rampur for some time,I’m able to understand the plight of marginalised people,” said Jaya Prada. The film,produced by Jaya Prada and Rajesh Gandhi,releases in West Bengal on October 30 and will be releasing in the rest of the country in November.