EXCLUSIVE: “This somewhere a tribute to those great people” – Sanjay Leela Bhansali on keeping the legacy and art alive in cinema through movies like Gangubai Kathiawadi

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

March 2, 2022 - 9:06 PM IST

Alia Bhatt and Sanjay Leela Bhansali are celebrating the glory of Gangubai Kathiawadi which is receiving accolades from all across. As they are taking each day as it comes, Bhansali recently sat down with Bollywood Hungama to talk about his film, the art and how filmmakers like Guru Dutt, writers like Ghalib, Sahir Ludhianvi continue to inspire his works.

EXCLUSIVE: “This somewhere a tribute to those great people” – Sanjay Leela Bhansali on keeping the legacy and art alive in cinema through movies like Gangubai Kathiawadi

When asked Bhansali about the importance of letting an artist say what they want to say, instead of worrying about whether people will be able to understand the nuances of the craft, he said, “Absolutely, that is why the people come and see your film because you have the freedom to express fully without limiting yourself with the people, box office, producer or distributor. I think Ghalib’s poetry is still relevant today and it’s still sung by many people, if not too many not the way it should be, but its relevant today and people are receptive to new things. We keep blocking ourselves by assuming that audience will not be able to understand. Audience will understand the essence of it; they will search for it in case they don’t understand the language. That participation of people of keeping that poetry alive from 400 years or 300 years ago, is our job as artists to keep that culture and poetry alive because a good poet or poetry never dies, it’s always relevant.”

He added, “When Sahir Saheb wrote ‘Jinhe naaz hai inn par who kahan hai’, which is shot in brothel for Pyasa by Guru Dutt, it is one of the most beautiful songs shot by the director. Every time the song would come or I would hear it out of context, it would move me so much because it was a sensitive poet like Sahir Ludhianvi who wrote such a strong line as he explains the state of these women and every time you hear it, your eyes well up if you sensitively want to hear it. Here was a director who shot it so delicately and fragilely that it was one of the most important songs that I have watched most in my life.”

“As a student of cinema, you keep watching important landmark songs or films or scenes by the great filmmakers. So, this is somewhere a tribute to those great people and keeping their legacy alive. I hope more people go and visit what Ghalib sahib and Sahir sahab wrote; go deeper into what they have written and understand it,” he said.

Gangubai Kathiawadi stars Alia Bhatt in the lead role, Ajay Devgn in special appearance with Seema Pahwa and Vijay Raaz in pivotal roles. Shantanu Maheshwari makes his Bollywood debut and is love interest of Alia Bhatt. Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Dr. Jayantilal Gada (Pen Studios), the film released on 25th February, 2022.