Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 18, 2016)

Director Harsh Narayan’s worst fears were realised when the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) called for a ban on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood following the Uri attacks exactly a month ago. His cross-border story Ye Raste Hain Pyar Ke was supposed to go on floors later next month, but shooting has now been suspended since Pak heartthrob Fawad Khan headlines the cast.

Harsh, however, hasn’t lost hope; he says he will wait for the current climate of hate against Pak artistes to ease to start his film. “We have been working on the story for the last five years, and the casting began almost six months ago. Fawad is keen to do the film, but we will abide by the producers’ guild’s ban on Pakistani artistes. It is a temporary ban. Even the Government of India has clarified that they have no plans to revoke the visas of Pakistani artistes. I see this as a positive sign,” he says.

The film is co-mentored by veterans Shyam Benegal, Mahesh Bhatt and Pakistani painter-writer Salima Hashmi. It will carry influences of poetry, literature, especially works of Bulle Shah, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sadat Hasan Manto.

Ask Harsh if he has considered dropping the actor from the film and he says, “Fawad suits our storyline perfectly, so we are keen to have him. If the situation worsens, God forbid, then we will consider replacing him. At the moment, I am hopeful things will improve soon. We are still in talks with a few Bollywood actresses for the leading lady part.”

Salima, a creative director on the film, adds, “I am here to provide Harsh moral support.”


Shyam Benegal, Mahesh Bhatt and Harsh Narayan

To be produced by award-winning veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, the project traces the story of two musicians from across the border and their journey of self discovery
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 12, 2016)


Over the last 15 years, Harsh Narayan has been trying to strengthen Indo-Pak relations with the help of influencers from both the countries. While he took classical vocalist L K Pandit and his composer-granddaughter Meeta of the Gwalior Gharana to perform in Lahore, he has brought Pakistani students to India to undertake Vipassana programs and attend Spic Macay performances for the last three years. More recently, Pakistani singer Farida Khanum toured India and Karachi-based Ustad Naseeruddin Sani performed 25 concerts across the border at the behest of Narayan.

Now, Narayan is set to direct a cross-border story of two musicians who set out on a tour of both the countries and discover themselves in the course of the journey. Titled Ye Raste Hain Pyar Ke, the film will be produced by Shyam Benegal. The news comes close on the heels of calls to ban Pakistani talent in India in the wake of the Uri attacks with Rahul Dholakia’s Raees which features Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Fawad Khan in a guest appearance and Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi which has Ali Zafar as one of the male leads, facing the flak. While political parties including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena have demanded that Pakistani actors be replaced in Indian films, Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) passed a resolution on October 2 banning artistes from across the border. But Benegal and Narayan are unperturbed.

“I believe there couldn’t be a better time to put out a film that explores love and peace and promotes humanity,” Narayan says, noting that Saadat Hasan Manto wrote his best work, including Toba Tek Singh, during the Partition. “Faiz Ahmed Faiz wrote the famous poem, Black-Out, while the 1965 Indo-Pak war was underway. His Subh-e-azadi: Dawn of Independence faced protests. From 1947 till his death in 1984, Faiz composed poems in which he spoke lovingly about his land and its long-suffering people, their hopes and fears, joys and sorrows. I'm trying to capture that feeling through my film,” Narayan asserts.

Benegal told Mirror, “People called me mad when I was making Ankur! I have found another mad-creative filmmaker in Harsh. He is capable, hard-working and can take on all the creative responsibilities necessary in making this film.”

Narayan has received support from other prominent personalities as well. While Mahesh Bhatt who believes the film’s idea “has immense possibilities and it affirms life in a very elementary way” has come on board as a creative advisor, he is joined by Salima Hashmi, daughter of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and a renowned writer-painter. “Harsh has played a pivotal role in forging friendships between the Indian and Pakistani youth. For the last decade, students have worked with him and travelled to India in groups to meet young people at different venues, participating in cultural activities including music and theatre to learn from each other and to promote peace. He is continuing his work in the same direction through films,” she said.

Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan has green-lit the project as well. “Respected Pakistanis and Indians who have known Narayan over the years and have seen him work relentlessly speak highly of his endeavours. I feel this film will help reduce friction between the two nations,” he said.

FAWAD KEEN ON THE ROLE, TO RESPOND WHEN THINGS COOL DOWN

Fawad Khan first read the script of Ye Raste Hain Pyar Ke three months ago and has been in talks with the makers ever since. “At the moment, he is sceptical about reactions to him working in an Indo-Pak co-production. He has shown a keen interest and will respond as soon as the present situation cools down. We are hoping he agrees to play the lead musician in the film,” Narayan told Mirror.

The 34-year-old Pakistani actor who has appeared in two Bollywood films, Khoobsurat and Kapoor & Sons, addressed the backlash in India to Pakistani artistes for the first time on October 7 through a Facebook post, saying, “As a father of two little children, I pray and wish like many others that together we can build and live in a more peaceful world. I believe we owe it to our children who will shape our tomorrow.”