Atlee opens up about Jawan’s politics being attributed to Shah Rukh Khan: ‘It’s my voice, my films should stand for 100 years’

Atlee spoke about the politics of Jawan, and said that the messaging wasn't directed at any party in particular, and ideally, it should be relevant even 100 years from now.

Atlee in a cameo appearance in Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan's song Zinda Banda.

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Director Atlee spoke about the political messaging of his blockbuster film Jawan, which has broken numerous box office records in its one month of release, besides elevating star Shah Rukh Khan to new heights. After the film’s release, many attributed its politics to the star, pointing out scenes that mirrored his personal life experiences. In an interview, Atlee agreed that the film’s messaging is very much his contribution, as his previous work in Tamil cinema has also been socially astute.

Appearing at the India Today Conclave, it was pointed out to Atlee that while most of Jawan’s political messaging was attributed to Shah Rukh, it’s worth noting that he isn’t exactly an apolitical filmmaker either. He said, “I’m also a part of the press, I’m also a part of the media. I should make entertainment with a responsibility. Of course, I can still entertain the audience without a message, but I wouldn’t be doing my job in the right way. I’m aware of today’s issues, and as a writer and director, I’m always thinking what we can do about them.”

Also read | Jawan: Shah Rukh Khan’s movie asks the tantalising question, ‘What if Ravish Kumar became a vigilante?’

Denying that he is an ‘anti-establishment’ director, Atlee described himself as a ‘layman’. “It is my voice, it is the common man’s voice…” he said. When it was pointed out to him that both the BJP and the Congress have been claiming that the film’s messaging favours them, Atlee said, “You have to be very responsible as a citizen, and I’m not specifying anything… You should know the value of your vote, how to vote, and on what basis you should come to the conclusion of who to vote for. It’s just a manual. We describe what your responsibility is.”

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Asked if the film is about any political party’s operations in particular, Atlee said that the monologue delivered by Shah Rukh’ Azaad at the end of the film should be relevant ‘even 100 years from now’. He concluded, “If a coach teaches a student how to bowl, it’s not for the next match, it’s for a lifetime. I’m saying a message for a lifetime, my films should stand for 100 years.”

With more than Rs 1100 crore globally, Jawan has emerged as the fifth-biggest Indian movie of all time, behind KGF: Chapter 2, RRR, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and Dangal. The film also broke Shah Rukh’s personal record, and is currently the biggest Bollywood release ever in India.

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