His new film ‘Khelein hum jee jaan se’ is based on real events of the Chittagong revolt against the British rulers during 1930s. The armed movement was led by a school teacher-turned-revolutionary Surya Sen (Mashterda). His followers included Tarakeshwar Dastidar, Anant Singh, Nirmal, Kalpana Dutta and Preetilata Wadedar. The revolutionary group consisting mostly teenagers, who had a short-term training, raided the British cantonment, armoury, telegraph office and later the officers’ club and killed some British officers and several soldiers. The raids were generally conspicuous of their burning patriotism and also immaturity in taking on a strong armed establishment. The bravery of the young patriots resulted in the death of several boys, suicide of Preetilata who never wanted to be arrested after successfully leading the attack of the officers’ club and arrest of the remaining. Mashterda and Tarakeshwar were awarded capital punishment.
Perhaps, the most authentic account of the Chittagong movement is by Kalpana Dutta in her book written in early 1940s. The book was translated into Telugu by Anisetti Subba Rao of the progressive writers’ association(‘Chittagong Viplava Veerulu’, Prajasakti Book depot, Bezawada). The Telugu book had such an influence over the Telugu people that hundreds of girls were named after Kalpana Dutta, particularly in Khammam, Krishna and Guntur districts of AP. It is my feeling that the film should have also been based on the reminiscences of Kalpana Dutta. For example, the youngest revolutionary Tegra joined the team after the raid on the cantonment and he was killed in action in the hills. Anant Singh was a source of inspiration to the young people of Chittagong. Singh had accepted the challenge by Kodi Rama Murty, the renowned Andhra Pahalwan during his circus show at Chittagong and successfully broken the iron chains with bare hands.
The selection of artistes by Govarikar is apt. He made them not to act but to behave like those who lived in those times. The re-creation of the scenes of the revolt, the Bangla households and the surroundings of Chittagong is worth-mentioning. The way he has shown the photos of the real heroes with a brief description in the end of the movie is a heartening variety. However, the tunes of the songs lack the flavour of a revolutionary movement.
At least in Andhra Pradesh, which is an abode of left movements, no proper publicity seems to have been made. Very few knew that the film is about the heroes of Chittagong. As a result, in Hyderabad, after one week, the film was limited to only one theater.The movie is a neat, honest attempt. This should have been made long back. Better late than never. An inspiring phase of our history has been recorded. It is for the audiences to see that such movies run for a reasonably long time so that directors and producers devoted to sincere film-making feel encouraged to bring laurels for Indian cinema. Khelein Hum Jee Jaanse is a must for all those who respect human dignity.
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