With Amit Rai, Director of Upcoming Bollywood Film “Road to Sangam”

Jan. 29 marks the release of an innovative Bollywood film, "Road to Sangam." The film revolves around a car mechanic named Hashmat Ullah who repairs an old Ford V8 engine, unaware the car once carried Mahatma Gandhi's ashes.

"Road to Sangam" was screened at many film festivals, and won awards at the International Film Festival of South Africa, the Radar Hamburg Film Festival in Germany, the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image Film Festival and the Los Angeles Reel Film Festival. The film even got an on-demand repeat screening at Cannes.

Below follows an interview with Amit Rai, the director of "Road to Sangam." Here the director talks about his film and his research on Mahatma Gandhi.

Your film, "Road to Sangam" is all set for theatrical release on Jan. 29, one day before the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Nervous?

No, I am not that nervous, but this pre-release time seems to be a bit chaotic as two more films are releasing with us, "Ishqiya" and "Rann," and both are big budget films with loads of promotion budget compared to our film. But, I have already tested the audience reaction at too many places in India and abroad. The strength of the film lies in its simplicity and that's what is touching hearts of the audience. So, I am 100 percent sure that audiences will like the film.

You have over a decade of experience in theater, and "Road to Sangam" is your debut as a director. So, how'd you get into film direction?

I am not going to use word accidentally for this question-Frankly speaking I came across a story which demanded celluloid not a theatre proscenium, so I decided to tell this story through this medium.

Tell us a bit about "Road to Sangam."

It's a simple story of a God-fearing, devout Muslim mechanic named Hashmat Ullah who has been entrusted the job of repairing an old V8 Ford engine, not knowing the historic significance that it once carried the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi which were immersed in the holy river ‘Sangam'.

He is caught in a complex situation after a powerful bomb explosion rocks his town leading to the arrest of innocent Muslim youths of his locality. A strike to work is called by the prominent leaders of his community to protest against the unjust treatment meted out to those youth arrested by the police.

Thus begins Ullah's journey-a journey of Gandhian values and principles.

How did you come up with the concept for the film?

I luckily came across a news item which I saw on NDTV, and that clicked the whole idea for the film. While researching the main plot I came across another story related with Gandhiji. I just tried to link these two stories with the common thread and that's \how I came up with this novel plot.

Were you advised against making a directorial debut with an off-beat subject? Was it hard to find a producer?

I would like to correct the word "off-beat" and replace it with "unusual." Yeah, everybody who listened to the story suggested that I not burn hands with such an unusual subject. But, I was sure, confident and desperate to make my debut with this film. Yes, it was extremely hard to find a producer for such a subject. But, I didn't lose my hope and pursued the aim. One fine day, after being rejected by every big production house except Dharma, Yash Ra,j and UTV, I met this young vibrant producer named AmitAmit Chedda who at first narration nodded and said, "We are doing it, but at your terms."

Like you mentioned, you did a whole lot of research about Gandhi while writing the film's screenplay. Were there any interesting things which came up during your research?

Yes, I have done lots of research. In fact, it took me two and a half years to come up with the bound script. Everything which came to me about Gandhiji through books, Web sites and other sources of information was quite interesting and at the same time shocking and amazing, too. The role played by him in constructing united India, his struggle, criticism, every bit of information was surprising. I came to know about his principles, ideology, his dream, his passion for knowledge, his simplicity, and his discipline, and, of course, what we gave him in return. I came to know about the remains of his which were supposed to be immersed in the river in Orrisa. Instead, it was left in bank locker for nearly five decades!

A bank locker for five years? Wow. Amit, "Road to Sangam" stars well-respected Bollywood actors Om PuriOm Puri, Paresh Rawal and Pavan Malhotra. Was it hard for you to get actors on board for this project since this is your debut as a director?

It was quite a good experience. I met Paresh RawalParesh Rawal on the sets of "Rang Rasiya." He was getting ready for his shot and he asked me to narrate a one liner of the film, of course, very gently. He listened to it very attentively and after a short while he asked the attendant to arrange chairs and requested his spot boy to not disturb him. I will not say that it was very easy for me to cast these veterans for my film, but I would like to put it in another way-my script is what attracted them to be a part of it. It was the story line which inspired them to accept these roles.

Did all the actors take you seriously on the sets, or did they pitch in a lot of advice?

Both. It was more of a sort of creative discussion which resulted in good scenes.

You've actually created a replica of the Ford V8 car which carried Gandhi's ashes. How hard was that?

The credit goes to my art director Narendra Bhagat and a dentor named Yakub. They did their best to erect this replica. There was an incident while shooting that this replicated vehicle seemed so real that the newspaper "Times of India" flashed news that a production house is using a heritage vehicle without proper permission and are misusing it. But, later on when they came to know that it was a replicated vehicle they apologized about it in the next day edition.

Did you and Paresh Rawal, the man playing the role of Hashmat Ullah, actually meet up with the real Ulla?

Yes, and after two days of shooting, Paresh Rawal etched his own character from script and refused to do a mimicry of the original man.

"Road to Sangam" actually features Gandhi's real grandson, Tushar Gandhi. How did you get Tushar on board?

I just narrated the story to him and humbly requested him to be a part of it. I also told him that I am desperate to have him play Tushar Gandhi and I am not going to do this film without him. He is very sensible and is a gem of a person. He smiled and accepted it.

The film has received a great response and many awards at various film festivals. Do you think film festival circuits are helpful for off-beat films?

No, it's not like that, but, yeah festivals do help to promote films, or rather to spread information about films. It's applicable on every kind of cinema. The latest example is "Slumdog Millionaire." It tasted its first success in festivals, and later it was commercially hit.

What are some other projects you are working on?

I am working on two to three projects simultaneously. They deal with spiritualism , globalization and environmental issues.

Okay, let's backtrack a bit. You've told the media that your parents were very hesitant for you to get involved in the entertainment industry and your dad didn't even let you attend the National School of Drama despite your getting admission there. How hard was it to pursue a career in theater and films with no support from your family?

You must have read my "Dairy of a Debutant Director" blog post (smiles). I belong to a very poor family. My father used to work eight hours a day as a foreman in a mill which is now locked out from the last ten years. He used to run a small shack in our area a sort of cigarette, biscuits stall. A guy called Barkhu gave him a smuggled national VHS player as he was not able to pay the debts lent to him by my father. My dad came up with an idea and he bought a Crown TV on installment and started renting it to customers 25 Rupees per film. That started my journey-me and my brother used to take that setup everywhere in our area and that cultivated the habit of watching films. I have no regrets or complaints to my father, because whatever he did was only because he wanted to see my future bright. Even now I consider that I am now in this field because of his VHS business. It's thanks to him.

Now that your film has received a lot of praise by film festival audiences and media, is your family proud of you?

Yes, but they don't know how to receive it as they are totally aware of this medium. But, my wife, brother, brother-in-law and friends are very much excited and happy about it.

Any plans for an outside-of-India release?

We have already equipped ourselves with an international version that has French, German and English subtitles. In fact, we have already screened it in Germany, Los Angeles and South Africa, and we have won the awards for the Best Foreign Film at all these festivals.

Will the DVD have any special features?

Yeah, it will have clips of the film's making and also have deleted scenes

There are way too many films which explore Hindu-Muslim tensions and there are even a few films about Gandhi. Some of our readers might be curious about what "Road to Sangam" has to offer that is unique. Would you like to tell our readers why you think they should see this film?

I would like to correct this-the film is not based on Hindu-Muslim tension. It is purely a film which has been narrated from a Muslim point of view-it's their problems, their apprehension and their solutions.

I would like to request through your Web site that everybody in the world who laughs, cries and has great respect for fellow men, countries, neighbors and religions should watch this film. They should come to know about this great man named Gandhi. This story may change the viewpoint of those who frequently question Mahatma Gandhi's relevance in the present world.

Will definitely get your message across to our readers, Amit. So, on a lighter note, you'll be taking your parents to the film's premier, right?

Yes, ma'am, definitely.

Written and directed by Amit Rai, "Road to Sangam" releases on Jan. 29, 2010. Produced by Amit Chheda, the film is 135 minutes long and stars Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Pavan Malhotra, Swati Chitnis, Masood Akhtar, Javed Sheik and Tushar Gandhi.