Randeep Hooda's Method Acting: Veer Savarkar's Cell Lockdown Attempt For Biopic Prep
Randeep Hooda's method acting for the upcoming biopic ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ offers a glimpse into the dedication and commitment he brings to biopic character preparation.
Actor Randeep Hooda, who is well-known for the roles he played in movies such as ‘Highway’, ‘Sarbjit’, and ‘Sultan’, has said that the Veer Savarkar biopic ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’, which tells the story of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, would hit theaters on March 22. Hooda, who also plays the lead, takes the director's seat for the first time with this film. The 47-year-old actor revealed the information on X, adding that 2024's Martyrs' Day coincided with the release date.
In his post, Randeep Hooda lead role actor, emphasised the different results, both praised and disregarded of two heroes from India's independence movement. He made references to altering history in the film adaptation of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar's epic tale.
He shared the following on the social media site “Instagram”: "Two heroes of Indian Independence Struggle; One celebrated and One removed from History"
The film promises to be an engaging journey, bringing to life the fiery and imaginative persona of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
Veer Savarkar: The Polemic Revolutionary
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born at Bhagur, near Nashik, in modern-day Maharashtra. He was born the son of Damodar and Radhabai Savarkar into a Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin home. Narayan, Ganesh, and Mainabai Savarkar were his other three siblings.
Veer Savarkar was a writer, social reformer, political theorist, and freedom fighter.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was known to his followers as ‘Veer’. Savarkar advocated for revolutionary means of attaining complete Indian independence in his writings.
He belonged to the Hindu Mahasabha, a well-known political organisation in India.
Savarkar revived the term "Hindutva," originally created by Chandranath Basu, and advocated the idea that India is a Hindu Rashtra in order to develop a collective "Hindu" identity as the essential element of Bharat.
The Indian Independence War: A Historical Chronicle
During 1909, Veer Savarkar published a book "The History of the War of Indian Independence"
Veer Savarkar once referred to the 1857 rebellion as the "first war of independence." He deemed British rule to be unjust and oppressive.
The book was banned by the British government, but Madam Bhikaji Cama published it in the Netherlands, Germany, and France anyhow, and eventually a number of Indian revolutionaries got aware of it.
He also planned an armed rebellion against the Morley-Minto reforms during this time.
Politics Over Savarkar Heat up in Poll-Bound Madhya Pradesh
Politics surrounding Hindutva philosopher Vinayak Damodar Savarkar appear to have heated up in Madhya Pradesh, where elections are soon to be held. The two major parties, the Congress and the BJP, have been regularly speaking about the freedom warrior.
Despite the party's repeated assertions of devotion to V. D. Savarkar and his ideas, the present BJP unit in Madhya Pradesh has chosen to incorporate Savarkar's biography into the curriculum.
The first declaration was made by State School Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar, who asserted that the Congress, which ruled the country for a considerable period after Independence, had ignored several revolutionaries in favor of honoring a single family.
When the minister talked of "one family," she meant the "Nehru-Gandhi family."
The biography of Savarkar would subsequently be taught in schools, according to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's National Education Policy (NEP).
It was disclosed to Chouhan "years later" that Savarkar's brother Ganesh Savarkar was detained in the infamous Andaman Islands Cellular Jail and that Savarkar was given two double life sentences there because of the harsh conditions.
“You'll see how he lived in Cellular Jail even if you go there right now. Lectures in schools will cover an individual who dedicated his entire life to serving the nation," continued Chouhan.
However, this is not the first time that Chief Minister Chouhan has said that Savarkar's biography will be taught to state kids. The sources claim that a similar proclamation was made back in 2011, but it was not followed through on for unknown reasons.
In response to the biography of Savarkar being included in the curriculum, the State Congress moved swiftly, branding it as a ruse by the ruling BJP to divert attention from crucial issues ahead of the assembly elections.
Muslim Congress MLA Arif Masood, from Bhopal, replied, "It is unfortunate that they want to include Savarkar. He apologised to the British and including him in the syllabus is an insult to freedom fighters."
It is common knowledge that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress hold divergent views on Savarkar's issue.
While the right-wing-backed BJP would glorify Savarkar and call him "Veer Savarkar," the Congress would attack the BJP and RSS in Savarkar's memory.
During the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir, for instance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued to corner the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government on the name Savarkar.
The BJP and Congress would frequently trade barbs on V.D. Savarkar.
Notably, Rahul Gandhi stated in November of last year at a press conference in the Akola region of Maharashtra that one of the old documents he had displayed was a letter sent by Savarkar to the British.
He then read aloud the opening line of the letter, which said, "I beg to remain your most obedient servant."
In retaliation, right-wing groups staged a protest and put up banners denouncing his remarks about the freedom fighter in Burhanpur city just one day before the Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Madhya Pradesh.
In Madhya Pradesh, where elections are due in less than four months and the BJP and Congress are vying for 230 Assembly seats, Savarkar's biography is more likely to spark political controversy.
Significantly, in 2019, the Savarkar biography was circulated in government-run schools by certain right-wing organisations, which compelled the Congress government led by Kamal Nath to take action against the school administration.
Did You Know That Randeep Hooda "Locked" Himself in Veer Savarkar's Jail Cell to Prepare for the Biopic?
Actor Randeep Hooda paid tribute to independence fighter Veer Savarkar with a special message on the anniversary of his death. On Instagram, Randeep shared pictures from "Swatantrya Veer Savarkar" sets.
He also revealed how he locked himself in a jail cell throughout the biopic's filming in order to feel what Savarkar went through. Uploading the images, he wrote "Today is the punyatithi of one of the greatest sons of Bharat Mata. Leader, Fearless Freedom Fighter, Writer, Philosopher & Visionary #SawatantryaVeerSavarkar. A man whose towering intellect and fierce courage scared the British so much that they locked him in this 7 by 11 foot jail in Kalapani for two life times (50 years). During the recce on his biopic I tried to lock myself inside this cell to feel what he must have gone through. I couldn't stay locked for even 20 minutes where he was locked for 11 years often in solitary confinement."
Ankita Lokhande and Amit Sial play important supporting roles alongside Hooda in the cast of biopic of Hindutva idealogue. Yogesh Rahar, Zee Studios, Anand Pandit, Randeep Hooda, and Sandeep Singh collaborate as producers on ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.’
The Veer Savarkar biopic film aims to offer a fresh perspective on the historical figure. The teaser for the new Veer Savarkar life story film, which premiered last year, has Randeep Hooda in a number of captivating characters, including that of the freedom warrior.
As he passes past the prison's walls in the teaser, Randeep states, "Only a few truly engaged in this battle, the struggle for freedom spanned 90 years." The others were desperate for power."
After that, the teaser portrays Savarkar as the one who "inspired armed revolution" against the British, motivating Khudiram and Subhash Chandra Bose among other notable freedom warriors. It shows Hooda being tortured in prison.
Actor Randeep Hooda asserts that Savarkar is more significant than ever and was always ahead of his time. “It’s about time the country came to know about the contribution of the armed revolution in our freedom struggle. Mr Savarkar was always ahead of time and is today more relevant than ever before.”
Randeep added: “After almost two years in Kalapani with Mr Savarkar, it’s finally time for him to step out to freedom. The journey has been tough but it has made me go beyond myself as an actor into being a filmmaker and much more.”
Conclusion
Randeep Hooda's method acting for the upcoming biopic ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ offers a glimpse into the dedication and commitment he brings to biopic character preparation. By immersing himself in the role and even locking himself in a jail cell to understand Savarkar's experience, Hooda showcases his passion for portraying historical figures authentically. As the film delves into the life of the polemic revolutionary, viewers can anticipate a fresh perspective on Savarkar's contributions to India's freedom struggle. With Hooda at the helm as both lead actor and director, "Swatantrya Veer Savarkar" promises to be a cinematic journey that pays homage to a significant figure in Indian history. Stay connected with B4U Entertainment for the latest updates on this eagerly awaited Bollywood release.
