It’s not every day that Mahesh Bhatt hosts a chat show. Then again, it’s not every day that an urgent show comes his way. Within seconds of getting on a call, the filmmaker, succinctly yet philosophically, explained what drew him to the SonyLIV show. “When the house is on fire, you don’t debate; you bring water. Pehchaan is that water, because you know where the world is right now,” he stated.

Directed by Suhrita Das and produced by Vinay Bhardwaj, the unscripted series features Bhatt in conversation with 13 individuals from the Sikh community, who dedicated their lives to seva. To the host, it’s notable that the chat show’s subjects don’t preach their truth, but practice it.

“They have drawn strength from their faith and translated it into action. We’re becoming a sound-byte society and we think we can solve the world’s problems just by talking, tweeting, or putting our ideas on Instagram. These individuals [on the show] are unsung and not seeking accolades. Today, when division is growing by the hour, Pehchaan speaks about connection.”

According to him, artistes must focus on building connection in today’s times of hate and division. “Any narrative that makes you look at your fellow human being again and listen to him/her and see him/her as a living, throbbing human being who has got his/her hidden wounds is what every filmmaker and storyteller actually should (tell). Stories should give you insights into [another human’s] complexities and the turbulence of life. It’s supposed to glue people together. Filmmakers can use a story as a weapon or as a way to stitch,” he said. 

Referring to Pehchaan, Bhatt said that stories have the power to bring one close to the “saviour” within them.

“So many of the Sikhs were wounded in 1984. But they didn't wear that wound or used it to separate themselves from the stream of life. They, in fact, more vigorously got engaged with life. That is the reason I am so passionate about Pehchaan because in the terrible times that we live in, anything that can through our audio visual bring a human being close to his own heart (is needed), because there's a saviour in every human being. And it's only through stories and encounters like this, that you wake them up to that saviour inside. Only when a story makes you touch that inner gold that everybody has been gifted, even the person that you resent, detest and disagree with, you have no other choice but to look at him as a reflection of what is called the Almighty. And I think if Pehchaan makes you look at your people, your next door person or your neighbour, in a different way, it will succeed. That will be far more important than the TRPs it generates.”

When asked if stories on screen, today, are “stitching” people together, he rued, “I don’t think so. The entertainment world and media have done the opposite. They are pushing people away from each other, by the hour. In fact, anybody who talks about gluing people together is looked as a person who has utopian ideas, an idealist or belongs to a time which is regressive.”