Nagraj Manjule is scheduled to make his Hindi debut this week, with the premiere of his much-anticipated film Jhund. The film, which stars Amitabh Bachchan, is based on the life of Vijay Barse, the founder of the Slum Soccer NGO. In an interview with Mid-Day, the filmmaker explained why he chose Hindi for the film and why he wanted to work with Amitabh Bachchan.
Jhund was started in 2017, but the producers pulled out before producer Bhushan Kumar could restart it in 2018.
Talking about the difficult phase, Manjule said, “I learnt the ability to power through this phase. Sometimes, things fall apart for the better. We had a set in Pune that we had to pull down. But it turned out to be (an advantage) as we eventually shot in Nagpur, where the story is originally set. Sometimes, I would get worried, but I had that zidd to make the film. I wouldn’t get the chance to work with Bachchan sir again. More than that, I had shown a dream to the kids, and I couldn’t take that away from them.”
Revealing why he chose to make the film in Hindi, Manjule said, “I met him and his students in Nagpur when the film first came to me. The reason I made Jhund in Hindi is because his students come from across the country. Cinema is a language in itself, and I knew I had to bring the soul of their stories into my narrative.”
Nagraj Manjule admits to being star struck when working with Big B. “I’ve been a tremendous fan since I was a youngster,” the Sairat director remarked of his first meeting with the megastar. But I realised I couldn’t be starry-eyed as a filmmaker. I have to remind myself that I’m collaborating with him on a film.”
Jhund will be released in theatres on March 4, 2022.
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