Vipul Shah and Sudipto Sen’s first collaboration ‘The Kerala Story’ emerged as one of the most successful films at the box office in 2023 so far
Our Bureau
Mumbai/Srinagar
Makers of the upcoming drama film ‘Bastar- The Naxal Story’ starring Adah Sharma unveiled the film’s official trailer on Tuesday. Taking to Instagram, Adah Sharma treated fans with the trailer video and captioned it, “15th March 2024. Prepare for the raw truth to hit hard. Bastar: The Naxal Story trailer is out now, shedding light on the path to a Naxal-free Bharat. Watch now.”
In the trailer, Adah can be seen as IPS Officer Neerja Madhvan, who is determined to make India Naxal-free. There is footage of Naxalites attacking CRPF Jawans, alongside scenes depicting JNU students celebrating their deaths. From grim sequences of individuals singing the National Anthem while engaging in horrific acts of violence, to heart-wrenching scenes of children being burnt and political figures being assassinated, as well as the hanging of innocent people, this trailer leaves an impact.
From sequences of individuals singing the National Anthem while engaging in horrific acts of violence, to heart-wrenching scenes of children being burnt and political figures being assassinated, as well as the hanging of innocent people.
Vipul Shah launched the trailer of ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’ at ground zero with the entire film team present in Raipur. Helmed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film is all set to hit the theatres on March 15.
Shah and Sudipto’s first collaboration ‘The Kerala Story’ emerged as one of the most successful films at the box office in 2023 so far. It depicts how thousands of young women were allegedly brainwashed into joining the Islamic State (IS) and heading off to countries like Syria and Afghanistan.
Speaking about the film, Vipul Amrutlal Shah said, “We do not want any controversy. We just make films with complete truth and honesty. When Dada (director Sudipto Sen) showed me the complete research on Bastar I saw the data on the violence there. Like that time there was celebration in JNU. I saw a lot of other things in that research. When you see all that and on the other hand see that the intellectuals in cities are providing cover fire to the same and justifying it, you realise that 90% of the people don’t know about something happening in one part of the country. I felt that it was essential to bring this issue before the people.”
Director Sudipto Sen has shared what inspired him to bring the drama film ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’, starring Adah Sharma after ‘Kerala Story’. Speaking about the movie, Sudipto Sen said that cinema has sporadically played a role in transforming society but it has never become a movement. “Historically the cinema should have played its role but I feel that it has taken a step back from the actual role that it should have played, common people were taught a wrong definition of entertainment. Cinema has played the role of transforming society. In our country, it has happened sporadically but it never became a movement. When we go to watch cinema, we watch dance, hear songs and come back. But we never explored it values of creating awareness. This was the experimentation of Vipul (Vipul Amrutlal Shah) and me to make a film on the reality of the country. ‘Kerala Story’ and ‘Bastar’ are results of that.”
Speaking about the movie, Adah Sharma said “if you are doing such a film, you have to trust your makers”.
“There was 110 per cent trust (in the story). I don’t think you should do such films if you become doubtful of the makers somewhere in the middle because it then shows in your performance. I read a lot of material that Dada (director Sudipto Sen) had shared with me. I even went there (Bastar). Dada was kind enough…they decided to let the actor live it before making such a film. I met IPS officers, and IG there. I stayed with the CRPF jawans in their camps. I saw how they train. I have a lot of gratitude in me. Girls can move around freely because jawans are protecting us. I love my country and I feel very close to the people protecting it.”
