Prakash Jha refuses to show Satyagraha to Team Anna

Prakash Jha is on a collision course with Anna Hazare’s supporters. There is a suspicion among some sections of Anna Hazare’s supporters that Jha’s film Satyagraha shows the veteran leader in an unflattering light. Speculation that Prakash Jha’s new film Satyagraha is based on Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement and that the Big B plays Anna Hazare while Ajay Devgn plays Arvind Kejrilwal, is gathering momentum. The latest on this front is that Team Anna has asked Prakash to show them the film. However in what could be considered a defiant development Prakash refuses to show it to Team Anna. Speaking exclusively to this writer the intrepid filmmaker, known to take on political dissenters during the release of his earlier films, says, “They are free to buy tickets and see the film when it releases on 30 August. It’s a free country. No one can stop anyone from seeing any film.” Beyond that Prakash refuses to be sucked into any debate on whom the film is modelled on. “Characters in Satyagraha are not modelled on Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal. People are free to speculate. During Raajneeti there was widespread speculation that I had made a film on Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi. I know there is a suspicion among Anna Hazare’s supporters that I’ve made a film on him. My film is about a jehad against corruption. But it is not based on any one particular character or campaign.” Prakash then quips, “Just as democracy is our birthright, films about cleansing the democratic process are every filmmaker’s birthright. Every film about fighting corruption has its own logistics.” With Prakash Jha’s complete refusal to screen Satyagraha for Team Anna, we wonder what lies in store for Team Prakash.