Swatantrya Veer: Savarkar On Films, Savarkar In Films

Randeep Hooda starrer ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ is all set to be released on 22 March 2024. The enthusiasm with which Indian viewers are awaiting the release of this film is evident from the fact that just 18 hours after the trailer’s release, the visual snippet from the film was trending first on Tuesday on the popular streaming platform YouTube.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the ideological fountainhead of Hindutva, who donned many hats ranging from that of a revolutionary freedom fighter to a social reformer has been the subject of various films and plays that delve into his life and contributions to the freedom movement. From biographical dramas to thought-provoking plays, Savarkar's journey has inspired creative minds across different mediums.

Savarkar on films

Notably, while Savarkar’s firebrand revolutionary persona is commonly known, not many are aware of his artistic contribution. Apart from writing poems such as Sagara and Jayostute which are considered one of the finest in Marathi, Savarkar also wrote plays like ‘Usshapa,’ ‘Sanyasatakhadga’ and ‘Uttarkriya.’

At the same time, as a true modernist, Savarkar was also curious about the technological advancements being made in film-making in his lifetime. Akshay Jog, a Pune-based researcher on Savarkar and Hindutva, said-

“More than ‘what’ Savarkar was always curious to understand the ‘how’ behind every phenomenon. When it comes to films, noted Marathi filmmaker Bhalji Pendharkar has mentioned in his autobiography about Savarkar’s visit to his film studio in Kolhapur. Savarkar is then said to have inquisitively asked him the reasoning behind usage of various instruments and techniques used in film-making."

Jog further pointed that words like ‘Chitrapat-Gruha’ for theatre, ‘Pata-Katha’ for screen-play, ‘Dhwani-Mudran’ for sound-recording and ‘Digdarshak’ for director in fact are all Savarkar’s contribution to the Marathi lexicon.

It is pertinent to note here that Savarkar not only wrote plays but also acted in plays as a college student in Pune, went to a cinema for the first time in London and visited a film studio at a time when being a part of a play or a film was considered a taboo. In fact, contrary to Mahatma Gandhi’s perception of cinema being ‘bad’ and worse, ‘an evil,’ Savarkar considered films as ‘a beautiful gift of the 20th century.’

A part of an interview given by Savarkar to a Marathi journalist which was reproduced by Niranjan Rajadhyaksha in The Mint is sufficient to mark the stark contrast between Gandhi and Savarkar’s outlook on arts and cinema-

“The very essence of the progress made by humanity over the past many years in science and knowledge can be found in contemporary cinema. There is no better example of the use of modern technology than the movies, and that is why I will never back any restrictions on them."

Savarkar reportedly also said, “I doubt whether the theatre can compete with the movies. It will barely survive in a corner just as the folk arts barely survive in our villages today. But its best days are behind it… films are even superior to novels. However well written the biographies of national heroes such as Shivaji, Pratap or Ranjit, there is no doubt their stories will be more enjoyable and impactful on the screen."

When asked about the purpose of cinema, Savarkar is said to have opined that similar to other fields, nationalism should also be reflected from the films made by Indians and that efforts should be made to make films focusing on the positive aspects of our country so as to inspire India’s youth.

Savarkar in films and plays

While there are a few weeks ahead until the film produced by Zee Studios releases, let's take a closer look at some noteworthy films and plays that bring the life and legacy of Savarkar to the forefront.

(1) Veer Savarkar - A Documentary (1983)

Produced by the Government of India’s Films Division in the premiership of Indira Gandhi and directed by Prem Vaidya, this is considered the first documentary on Savarkar.

The film traces the journey of Savarkar from his birth in the village of Bhagur to the influence of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s writings and atrocities committed by the colonial administration on his young mind. It goes on to narrate the situations that compelled him to establish revolutionary organisations like ‘Abhinav Bharat’ as a young student, and his subsequent efforts to eradicate social evils and purify the Marathi language in the later phase of his life.

(2) Kaala Paani (1996)

Directed by Priyadarshan in 1996, this Malayalam movie based on the life of freedom fighters sentenced to life imprisonment in the Cellular Jail of Andaman Nicobar unfolds a compelling narrative of tyranny and injustice in British India. The film follows the life of Govardhan, played by super-hero Mohanlal, who is wrongly accused and sentenced to life in the infamous Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands. As the story unfolds within the grim prison walls, the movie not only portrays the physical and emotional hardships faced by inmates but also delves into India's fight for independence.

In this movie, Savarkar, played by Annu Kapoor, is portrayed as a person full of grit and hope, unfazed by the adversities of prison life. The movie depicts Savarkar as someone who tries to uplift the spirits of his fellow prisoners and as one who courageously demands treatment befitting human dignity to all prisoners.

(3) Veer Savarkar (2001)

Produced by noted Marathi classical vocalist Sudhir Phadke and Directed by Ved Rahi, ‘Veer Savarkar’ was the first attempt to make a comprehensive biographical film that chronicles the life of the freedom fighter. The film delves into Savarkar's early years, his activism, imprisonment, and his enduring spirit. Shailendra Gaur's portrayal of Savarkar received widespread acclaim for its authenticity and depth.

The movie is also said to have been India’s first crowd-sourced film with nearly 10,000 individuals, including notable figures such as Lata Mangeshkar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi having contributed towards the fund established to finance the film.

Portrayal of Savarkar in Marathi Theatre

Over the years, several plays have been written on Savarkar in Marathi. Some of them from the recent past are:

(1) Kritagya Mi! Kritarth Mi!

Directed by Yatin Thakur who also plays the role of Savarkar, this play sheds light upon the apolitical aspects of Savarkar’s life. Notably, it reveals the mutual affection between Savarkar and his wife Yamunabai Savarkar whose role is played by Dipti Bhagwat.

(2) Tya Tighi

Directed by Aparna Chothe, this play sheds light on the lives of the spouses of the Savarkar brothers- Yashoda, Yamuna and Shantabai. Based on a similarly titled novel by Shubha Sathe, this is an ekpatri genre of drama in which Aparna plays all three roles.

(3) Challenge

Starring Nikhil Raut, Dipti Lele and Digpal Lanjekar, this play focuses on the relations between Savarkar and Madan Lal Dhingra. It portrays how influenced by Savarkar’s radical thoughts on colonialism and freedom struggle during the former's stay in London, Dhingra became a revolutionary and went on to assassinate British official Curzon Wyllie.