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Prakash Jha's Aarakshan faces trouble on all sides

Mumbai, August, 2 : It is a film on one of India's most controversial subjects. No wonder then that it has run into some controversy itself. Prakash Jha 's latest film Aarakshan was first panned by Dalit groups even before its release for being anti-Dalit and now the upper caste groups in Rajasthan have threatened to stall its release as they believe it shows them in a poor light.
Saif Ali Khan's portrayal as a Dalit student leader in the upcoming film has ruffled many a political feather. The film's promos have frayed tempers across the country, with Jaipur being the latest to launch a protest. Posters were burnt and threats were issued against the screening of the film by a pressure group called Karni Sena.


Protesters have reservations on the portrayal of Dalits in the film. National Commission for Scheduled Caste chairman P.L. Punia says, "We were the first to oppose it. I hope others will join us."


This is not the first time the film has seen objections raised against it. Several Maharashtra politicians are also anti-Aarakshan, demanding special screening of the film ahead of its release.


Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athavale says his party will not allow the screening of the film if it's anti-reservation.


"Aarakshan will bring law and order problem. We have raised the issue with the home minister," says NCP MLA Jeetendra Avadh.


Used to courting controversies, the director of the film, Prakash Jha, remains unfazed. "The nine-member panel, which saw the movie, congratulated me," Jha told Headlines Today, adding, "I want people to call me and point out a single anti-Dalit sentence from the promo."


With no one actually having seen the film - posters already burnt, tempers mightily frayed and with emotions running wild - it will only be the unreserved release of Aarakshan that may douse the fire of controversy.
Prakash Jha's films are known to be hard hitting with strong socio-political themes.


Aarakshan is based on the controversial topic of caste-based reservation in educational institutions.


With a formidable caste of Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, this film too promises to be a high-voltage drama.


"This (reservation) was something that was of great interest to me. I kept watching it and observing it and kept seeing the drama unfold and all the repercussions - the commercialisation of education," says Jha.


Amitabh Bachchan plays Prabhakar Anand, an upright, idealistic principal of an institution caught in the debate between reservation and merit.


"There is a whole section of our nationals, who do not have the resources to get higher education. What goes through their mind and how they deal with this situation. Here is an erudite head of institution, who thinks about that and wants that equal opportunity be given to them and they should be allowed to rise according to their merit," says Bachchan.


Anand is challenged by one his own loyal students, Deepak Kumar, played by Saif Ali Khan. Saif is cast in the role of a Dalit, who is fighting for his rights.


In the high-votage, socio-political drama, there is Nikhilesh Singh, played by Manoj Bajpayee, who depicts how education is used as a medium to make money. The film also stars Prateik Babbar and Deepika Padukone.


"I am torn between the character that Saif is playing and my father," says Padukone.


Like majority of Jha's films, Aarakshan takes on issues about the society and political affairs of India. The film releases on August 12.


The drape of the cotton saree, the signature wave to the crowds, the ponytail - Katrina Kaif's character in Prakash Jha's Raajneeti seemed inspired by the grand old party's chief Sonia Gandhi.


But that was not the only controversial point of the film. The word widow was removed from a dialogue to be replaced by bitiya or daughter.


The film was released only after a super censor team comprising three members from the Congress suggested changes and they were incorporated.


So, what is it about Prakash Jha, his socio-political potboilers and the ensuing politics of controversy?


Earlier, Jha's Gangajal had invoked the ire of RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav's brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav, since the villain in his film bore the same name.


Only when the real-life legislator of Bihar, Sadhu Yadav with several crimes to his name viewed the film that the virtual ban on Gangajal was finally lifted.


The movie was based on the two-decade old notorious 'Bhagalpur blinding' case, in which cops had poured acid into the eyes of criminals. The acid soon came to be referred to as Gangajal locally.


So, has Jha been cleverly using the bad press to his advantage, garnering maximum, pre-release mileage for his movies?


Jha made his debut as a director with Hip Hip Hurray in 1983. In his next award winning venture Damul, Jha focussed on caste conflicts in rural Bihar. From Damul to Apaharan, Shool and now Aarakshan, socio-political thrillers have almost become a Prakash Jha trademark.


The helplessness of the aam aadmi in the face of various permutations of neta-mafia-criminal nexus, corruption making inroads in the judiciary, feudal oppression, caste politics - Jha has captured it all on celluloid.


A filmmaker's choice of subject is a reflection of his own beliefs. In the case of Jha, it may have to do with his aspirations. Because having fought and lost two Lok Sabha elections, the celluloid screen still remains his chosen canvas of expression.

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