Wednesday, May 1, 2013
MILKHA SINGH ON ADMIRING
FARHAN’S HARD WORK IN BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG AND CAPTAINING PAAN
SINGH
A day after Farhan ‘Milkha’ Akhtar visited Calcutta to talk
about MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination), the
Milkha Singh came to town — after a gap of 20 years. The
‘Flying Sikh’ was in Calcutta on Saturday to receive
the lifetime achievement award from the Calcutta Sports
Journalists’ Club at its annual prize distribution function.
He also met a group of visually impaired members from the
Blind Empowerment Foundation. Milkha spoke about
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan and life at 80-plus…
It is said that four other directors had offered to make
a film on your life. Why did you choose Rakeysh Omprakash
Mehra?
Milkha Singh’s story is like an open book and
everyone knows how Milkha Singh became a hero from
zero. But when it comes to the film, my son (and golfer)
Jeev Milkha Singh took all the decisions. I haven’t seen
any film after 1960. I don’t know any actor, director or
scriptwriter. I had no idea how a film can be made. But
Jeev watches one Hindi film every evening after his
golf. He had seen Rang De Basanti and was really inspired by
that film. Jeev also told me that though the previous
directors wanted to pay us Rs 1.5 crore for the story, we
would give it for only Re 1. So it was his decision.
My main idea was that the coming generations should be
inspired by this story and they should know about my story.
This is also the only film that’s being made on a living
sportsman.
But you had set two conditions…
I wrote in the agreement that they would have to donate 10
to 20 per cent of the film’s profit to the
Milkha Singh Charitable Trust.
This was the first condition. The second was that Bhaag
Milkha Bhaag would not be released unless I watch and
approve each and every scene of the film. I haven’t seen the
entire film till now. But after seeing the teaser, I feel
they have done an excellent job. Teaser bahut hi achha tha.
Were you present during the shoot?
I have just seen two to three scenes that were shot inside
the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. Otherwise, I wasn’t
present during the shoot.
You interacted with Farhan Akhtar before the shoot. What
did you pass on to him?
I told Farhan Akhtar about how I would start, what my
running style was like. I went to Mumbai to explain to him
how Milkha Singh would do his sand running and hill running.
He has really put in a lot of hard work to get the physique
Milkha Singh had and that’s commendable.
Do you feel Farhan has been able to do justice to your
character?
Farhan ne young Milkha Singh bann ke dikhaya hai. He has
done a fabulous job and I am very pleased! The way young
Milkha Singh looked in his real life.... This is a big
achievement. Woh jo itna hard work karke wahan pahuncha hai,
bahut badi baat hai. From the teaser it looks like it will
be a really good film, but I will only be able to say once I
see the entire film.
The movie isn’t just about the athlete Milkha Singh but
also about the person and the horrors of Partition. It must
have been difficult revisiting those memories...
It was really difficult. Now that you have asked me this
question, mere rongte phir se khade ho gaye. What I
experienced in Pakistan, it shouldn’t happen to anybody in
this world. How many children can forget seeing their entire
family being wiped out in front of their eyes — parents,
brother and sister? I came to India hidden under a pile of
dead bodies in a train’s compartment. It is extremely
tormenting and difficult to revisit those memories. But now
when I think about it, I realise that people on both sides
weren’t in their senses.... unke sar pe bhoot chhaya hua tha.
I had refused to visit Pakistan in 1960, but it was on
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s request that I finally went.... I
am also grateful to Pakistan for giving me the title ‘Flying
Sikh’. Throughout the world people know me as ‘Flying Sikh
and that has been possible only for Pakistan.
Last year, there was a film made on Paan Singh Tomar, now
it’s your turn...
We both had our own share of struggle but in different ways.
Paan Singh Tomar’s circumstances forced him to become a
dacoit. He was in my squad and I was his captain. He went to
Germany, Pakistan, England and Japan with me. So I know
personally what a good human being he was. These stories
needed to be told and I am happy that these films are being
made. In our times, nobody cared. It was a very different
struggle. Despite having medals in steeplechase, nobody
cared about him. Had he received some help, his story would
have been very different.
In that way, I feel lucky. I am not just satisfied but more
than satisfied with my life. I am very happy that my son is
doing well in life, especially keeping in mind where I had
started my journey from. I can’t ask for anything more in
life.
Sneha Dutta