The Red Rag

This is Gupta’s second directorial venture,after his Stoneman Murders in 2009. Hostel,he is quick to point out,is not a tribute to Kachroo,but the boy’s characteristics are strongly reflected in the protagonist of the film. “The boy was beaten to death. What could be a more chilling instance of how cruel ragging can be?” continues Gupta. The director has the support of Aman’s father,Rajendra Kachroo,in making the film.

The Aman Movement for anti-ragging,founded soon after Aman’s death by Rajendra to raise awareness about ragging issues,has been accorded a ‘special thanks’ in the film. “It’s a fictitious film. But I support the director’s interest in portraying real issues,” says Rajendra,who has been campaigning for justice after his son’s death.

Hostel’s story is set in an engineering college in Satara,Maharashtra,where an intelligent and reserved boy from Mumbai is subjected to various forms of torture by seniors,leaving him traumatised. His complaints to the college authorities fall on deaf ears and,as a result,his performance flags. “The only similarity with Aman is that this boy is also an outsider and is academically sound when he enters college,” adds Gupta,who shot the film over 24 days at Bhavan’s College,Andheri.

Though the director approached Shahid Kapur and Kunal Khemu for the film,they declined. The film now stars lesser-known actors like Vatsal Sheth,Tulip Joshi and Mukesh Tewari,and focuses on 25 different ragging cases that has grabbed national attention over the years. He has incorporated real-life instances in the film too. “There was an assistant director who worked on Sarkar,who was boasting one day about how he used to rag his juniors during his college days. I have based a character on him in the film,” says Gupta.

The film’s treatment includes several graphic scenes capturing the brutal extent of abuse. “Unlike 3 Idiots which shows ragging in a light manner,I have focused on the hard-hitting aspects of ragging. The content is disturbing and should act as an eye-opener,” says Gupta. He has been undertaking road trips through the country,campaigning against ragging. He heads to Nagpur on January 19 to address a student gathering with BJP chief Nitin Gadkari.