Bollywood eyes enchanting Arunachal to shoot films

Beyond the Horizon

By Prdeep Kumar

Actor Vicky Kaushal, who is preparing for biopic of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, was with Army soldiers in first week of August along Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh while filming for NDTV’s Jai Jawan.

Sharing a picture of himself with some Army jawans from Tawang, he wrote: “Elated to be getting an opportunity to spend a few days with our Indian Army posted at 14,000ft altitude along Indo-China border of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.”

Vicky is seen all smiles in the picture with his hands folded as the jawans cheer him up from behind. Sam Manekshaw was the Army chief in 1971, when India fought the Bangladesh Liberation War with Pakistan.

Vicky, escorted by a woman officer, interacted with smiling jawans who despite their daunting life with temperature going down to -20° during winter guard the frontier along the Line of Actual Control bravely. He was welcomed by commanders at various locations who gave winter clothes considering cold climate due to very low temperature, windy and foggy. Right from placing wrath at Tawang War Memorial, he took part in their daily exercises including close quick battle (CQB), played volley and dined with the jawans to have firsthand knowledge of their daily in border and boost their morale before joining in a culture event in evening.

Vicky will now be seen in two biopics — freedom fighter Sardar Udham Singh and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.  Titled Sardar Udham Singh, the film is directed by Shoojit Sircar and written by Ritesh Shah and Shubendu Bhattacharya. It follows Singh, the revolutionary who assassinated, British India’s Punjab Lieutenant Governor Michael O’Dwyer in 1940 to avenge 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

He will also be seen playing Manekshaw in Sam, which will be directed by Meghna Gulzar and written by Bhavani Iyer. Manekshaw was chief of Indian Army in 1971 when India fought the Bangladesh Liberation War with Pakistan.

“I had heard stories of him from my parents because they are from Punjab. During 1971, they saw the war closely… When I read the script and got to know more, I was blown away. He was truly a legend this country had. It’s an honour of the highest order to get an opportunity to play this part,” he added.

While both the films chronicle the journey of personalities of national importance, when asked if he has become the face of patriotism, Vicky said, “As an actor when you are choosing stories, you are not looking for similar roles, or if patriotism is there or not. If you are moved by a good story, you are inclined to do the film.”

Vicky, 31, who played the role of an Army officer in Uri: The Surgical Strike, based on surgical strikes carried out by the Army in Pakistan following the 2016 terror attacks in Uri base camp to win National Film Award for Best Actor. His films are lined up Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship and Takht.

Glimpses of Jai Jawan shooting depicting Kaushal with jawans in Tawans clearly indicated that Bollywood has out nature trove Arunachal Pradesh on its radar as flashed by NDTV as Independence Day special on Thursday. Koyla was also shot in Tawang, particularly in Sangestar Tso Lake, 20-km from Twang on way to Bum La Pass along Indo-China border above 15,200ft above sea level. After the shooting, people started calling it Madhuri Lake, which I have visited.

However, this was an old trade road from Tawang via Milakatong La Pass to Num La Pass and finally to Tsona Dzong in Xizang province of China. In fact, the People’s Liberation Army had invaded India during the 1962 Sino-India War and fiercest battle had taken place in Bum La Pass.

Films, namely Dev Anand’s Yeh Gulistan Hamara (1972) with lead stars Sharmila Tagore, Pran, Sujit Kumar & Jhony Walker; Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Koyla (1997) with lead stars Madhuri Dixit & Amrish Puri and Rangoon (2017) with lead stars Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor & Kangna Ranaut, all shot in this Himalayan state, had hit the box offices.

However, Vicky should have been informed to visit Lumpo village at 10,000 feet above sea level very close to Sino-India border in Tawang district, where more than 700-year-old Tserteng Gompa, built by Lama Sang Hridhar and witness to 1962 Indo-China stands tall today. The 15-feet tall statue of Lord Jowa, other name of Lord Buddha, made up of brass with gold coat all over bore the brunt of 1962 war. Bullet shot by one of the Chinese soldiers hit the chin of the statue but could not pierce it, instead hit the rock wall.

After witnessing it in December 2012 with the help of Lugla lawmaker Jambey Tashi, I had given the breaking news to world through Asia News International (ANI) – PLA did not spare even Lord Buddha in 1962, is India ready for a trial of strength? (With agency inputs)

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