It's a common man's film and we want them to watch it: 'Shorgul' makers hopeful it'll get a fair chance

Despite the controversy surrounding the Pranav K Singh and Jitendra Tiwari directed Shorgul, the makers of the film are hopeful that it will get a fair chance at the theatres.

Produced under the banner of 24 FPS Films, the film stars Jimmy Shergill, Ashutosh Rana, Suha Gezen, Narendra Jha, Anirudh Dave, and Sanjay Suri in lead roles. After the PIL seeking a ban on Shorgul was quashed by the Allahabad High Court bench in Lucknow, earlier this month, a fatwa was issued against Jimmy Shergill on June 23 for hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.

The makers of the film had to push the release date of the film from June 24 to July 1. Apparently, the film couldn't gather the desired number of screens with which its release was initially planned. In a telephonic conversation with dna, Samira Kelkar CEO and Creative head at 24 FPS Films revealed, "There has been immense demand from people who want to watch the film. The theatre owners and exhibitors have extended massive support for the movie." With so many issues surrounding the film, the ban, the fatwa, and postponing the release date, some or the other apprehension is bound to cloud the vision.

On being asked whether it's because the episode is similar to the state (of Uttar Pradesh) being portrayed in a bad light, which had been the claim against Udta Punjab, Kelkar stated, "The film is a simple, innocent story with which innocent people can relate to and connect with." She added that it has no political connotations whatsoever. It is only set in UP.

When probed on why Shorgul hadn't been able to gather the same level of support from the industry (as Udta Punjab), Kelkar admits, "At the end of the day, we have to accept the fact that we are a first time production house. And at this level it's difficult to gather support from the who's who of the industry." Nevertheless, Kelkar is glad that people are supporting such kind of cinema and voicing their opinions on it. "We are all under the same umbrella after all," she added.

The UP government led by Akhilesh Yadav supported the makers of Shorgul in every possible way throughout the shoot of the film and thereafter, Kelkar said. Reports were doing the rounds that the makers plan to approach Akhilesh Yadav to intervene in the matter. Kelkar informed, "We have already spoken to his (Akhilesh Yadav's) office and we've got full support from their side. Police protection has also been provided."

BJP leader Sangeet Singh Som had claimed that the film portrays several political leaders in a bad light. Addressing this claim, Kelkar said, "I respect his feelings, but I don't want to disrupt anybody's political impression. When Jimmy was briefed about his character he was told, 'You play a young, fierce politician who can go to any extent to get what he wants.' That can be anybody. So Jimmy didn't have just one person to study while researching about his character."

Kelkar further talked about Ashutosh Rana, who is also essaying the role of a political leader, and said, " His role is also inspired by a number of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. So, it's a conglomeration of a number of leaders and their ideologies and not a single person alone." 

Nevertheless, the makers of the film are hopeful that Shorgul will get a fair chance at the theatres. She revealed that Shorgul's association ​ with the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots have somewhere gone against it. She said, "I would want people to watch the film. It's safe to watch the film. It should be given a fair chance to reach the masses. It's a common man's film and we want the common man to watch it."

Watch the trailer of the film here: