Check out the ensemble cast of Prakash Jha''s Satyagraha
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; September 7, 2012)
Prakash Jha has not only got the cast he wanted, but has also managed a coup by bringing Amitabh Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor together in his next socio-political drama Satyagraha, which he starts shooting coming January. Here he talks exclusively to Bombay Times.
What is Satyagraha about?
Any social change excites me. The film brings out the angst of the middle class which today exists all over the world as we have seen with movements like Occupy Wall Street or the London Riots or the Anna Hazare agitation.
The film is about making the middle class understand, that while their aspirations, outlook and ambitions need to be fulfilled, they equally need to nurse the democracy with the same strength that they expect the democracy to give them.
They cannot ignore the process of democracy. They choose not to vote, they use their money to break the queue, they think their children are brighter than the lower class so they think they have the right to renegotiate democracy and that is what I want to make them understand.
Who gave the people who participated in Anna''s movement against corruption the certificate that they were not corrupt? The middle class, in reality, easily succumbs to corrupt means whether it is educating your child or getting a house or a privilige or pushing others to become successful in the so-called rat race. While there was a boom, you started dreaming, buying cars and went on holidays but with recession you can''t do that, so you''ve started to blame the system. I don''t mind 100 families in India surging ahead of others, but a major part of the entire GDP of the country cannot be in their hands as the disparity will lead to violence. I am a believer of growth which is inclusive.
THE CHARACTERS:
Amitabh Bachchan:
Plays a man who is a firm believer of truth and an inherant believer of society who wants his son to give back to society and the nation all that they have given him. He is like a new age Gandhi.
Ajay Devgn:
He represents shining India and is a brilliant entrepreneur, who uses the ways of the world to get what he wants. He does not see eye to eye with Big B''s character.
Arjun Rampal:
Plays the role of a strong socially committed activist who has ambitions to become a politician. He studied in the same school of which Bachchan was the principal.
Kareena Kapoor:
Is a hard-headed TV reporter out on the field. She digs deep and has an opinion.
Manoj Bajpayee:
Plays a wily, young coalition politician who uses every means to break the system. He is the real threat to democracy.
Love:
There is very strong traction between Ajay and Kareena, but equally when they clash on ideology they break up and reunite when he comes back to his principles.
All these characters from different backgrounds will come together to bring an andolan '" Satyagraha.
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