First historical film on Chauri Chaura from U.P. “1922 Pratikar Chauri Chaura”

Abhik Bhanu to bring real life history to reel life 

Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), India: Filmmaker Abhik Bhanu launched his upcoming periodic-historical Hindi feature film – “1922 Pratikar Chauri Chaura”. It is the first film of its kind which will reveal the incident happened in Chauri Chaura, a town near Gorakhpur and Deoria in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) 100-years-ago… 

 

The first look of the film was recently showcased in Gorakhpur. It is being produced by Sarayu Visionwith Anju Khare as the co-producer. Dileep Bhosale is the creative producer while Atul Kumar Pandeyis the executive producer and Sumit Kumar is the line producer. Vishal Shrivastava is the production designer. Director of photography is by Manoj Gupta and Sanjay Mehta, art direction is by Dipankar Mondale and editing by Arun Shekhar are the major credits of the film. Ravi Shankar Khare is the presenter of this film. 

 

What happened in Chauri Chaura 100-years ago was seen as a simple incident of arsoning of a police station and thus was not given due place in the pages of history. In the year 1922, in British-India and during the non-cooperation movement (a part of the Indian freedom struggle) led by Mahatma Gandhi, the protesters set fire to a police station and killed at least 22 policemen in protest against the police firing on large group of demonstrators. 19 arrested freedom fighters were sentenced to death and 14 to imprisonment for life by the British colonial authorities. 

 

Incidentally writer-director Abhik Bhanu had made his debut feature film “Sab Kuch Hai Kuch Bhi Nahin” on the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. Speaking on the occasion the director reveals, “1922 Pratikar Chauri Chaura is the first Hindi feature film ever made on Chauri Chaura incident related 100-years-back; the struggle of common people in their fight for Independence.. The film is in the memory of the martyrs in this incident. It is surprising and unfortunate that this portions of the freedom struggle have been omitted in the history books by the then Britishers’ and the Indian government too.” 

 

The filmmaker whose last release was Jimmy Sheirgill starrer “Gun Pe Done” has also authored few award-winning books like ‘Honcho’, ‘A Dark Rainbow’, ‘Stool Pigeon’ and ‘Blind Faith’. He has the passion and ability to take real life situation and make them dramatic on the screen. He further says, “We will be showing actual events that transpired during that time of freedom struggle. It took us more than 8-months for research and a team of 20-writers. The script also involves sources from books of well-known authors. We are also in the process of casting look-alike characters from U.P. to fit the bill. Either than the actors we are also looking for good folk singers.” 

Regarding filming, Abhik Bhanu replies, “We have planned our shooting schedules from July-end this year and earmarked locations in the exotic and picturesque locales of entire Uttar Pradesh like Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Allahabad, Lucknow and Varanasi.” 

 

As for his release plans Bhanu says, “We are eagerly looking forward to complete and release this film on a grand international scale and simultaneously commemorate with centenary year-long celebrations of Chauri Chaura. The gesture of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in giving Chauri Chaura the deserved importance is overwhelming. Likewise we intend to release the film across thousands of screens and add cherry topping the cream.”  

 

It may be recalled CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and his state administration had claimed that till date the history of Chauri Chaura had not been celebrated as it should have been. The UP government has planned a year of celebrations from February 4, 2021 to February 4, 2022 in all 75 districts of the state in the memory of the martyrs. PM Narendra Modi had inaugurated a series of events last February 4, 2021 to mark the centenary year of Chauri Chaura incident. During that time then he had proudly quoted:  “1922 Pratikar Chauri Chaura…. Ek Kaand Nahi….Sangram Hai…”