February 27, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Gone are those days when the filmmakers would compromise with their subjects of interest just to please the temperament of their audience. The filmmaker Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan is an example of a director who didn't bat an eyelid while choosing the elements of his forthcoming subject ‘Lahore’. The multiple award-winning ‘Lahore’ was screened at the 2009 Salento International Film Festival in Italy where it bowled over the critics, yet again.
‘Lahore’ comes across as a serious film on India-Pakistan peace. However, interestingly, it is based on the game of kickboxing played by the two neighbors. Wonder why the filmmaker chose such a sport when popular sports like cricket and hockey would have fit the bill?
One of the director’s actors in the film, the multifaceted Saurabh Shukla, has an explanation. Shukla proclaims, “Chauhan could have chosen any sport. However, since he has a special inclination towards kickboxing and knows it inside out, he selected this particular sport. He didn’t want to take up any sport with which he is not well versed. If he had done that, justice wouldn't have been done to the film.''
Now, that is the definition of an ultra professional filmmaker. Now the moot point is whether he will be able to impress the audience with his flick 'Lahore'. The theatrical release on March 19, 2010 will be its real litmus test.
-Esha Razdan/ Sampurn Wire
