Shyam Benegal spent his 87th birthday yesterday just how he likes it — immersed in his next directorial venture. That his next is a definitive biopic on Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, only adds to the joy. “I was inspired by Mujib’s fascinating life, and his tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. His entire family was assassinated, except for his two daughters [Sheikh Hasina, and Sheikh Rehana] who happened to be in London,” reflects the veteran filmmaker.

In 2020, India and Bangladesh announced the co-production, Mujib: The Making Of A Nation, to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, as the late leader was fondly called. Benegal, who took the Bengali film on floors earlier this year, is currently working on its post-production.

“We shot in Dhaka, Chittagong, north and south Bangladesh, as the film traces Mujib from his late teens to his politician [days]. The cast comprises Bangladeshi actors Arifin Shuvoo [in the titular role], Nusrat Imrose Tisha and others. Since Dhaka is a crowded city, we conducted the second half of the shoot in Mumbai.”

Rahman served as Bangladesh’s first president, going on to become the prime minister between 1972 and 1975. He served as the president again before being assassinated in August 1975. As Benegal brings the late leader’s legacy to the screen, he says Rahman’s daughter and Bangladesh’s current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed gave him insights into the visionary behind the man.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was extremely helpful. She provided us with details about their family life, and her mother [Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib], who was a source of inspiration to Mujib. [This is the kind of] information that no biography would provide. During the shoot, she invited me for lunch at her home. She is a wonderful cook, and had whipped up some special Bengali dishes, including hilsa. After the  post-production is complete, I’ll invite her for the first screening.”

We seek to decipher when a Shyam Benegal-movie last arrived in cinema halls. Wikipedia says it has been 12 years, while the man himself says it was “sometime in the last decade”. Given his long break from filmmaking, there’s reason to celebrate his return to direction with the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman biopic, Mujib: The Making Of A Nation.

In a chat with mid-day, Benegal describes his film on the founding father of Bangladesh as a story of resilience. “It is the story of a man’s vision for a country, and how the nation was thus birthed. A man who created a nation [must have had] a fiery spirit, with insurmountable determination. He steadfastly stayed by his ideals, which is why there is something for everybody to learn, even in this day and age,” says the filmmaker.

Having got the support of Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and Rahman’s daughter, Benegal says she also provided fodder for the making of the film. Given the filmmaker’s credibility, it could be assumed that there would be no place for white-washing. “There was no censoring of any kind from the family,” assures Benegal of the film that sees Bangladeshi actor Arifin Shuvoo in the role of the protagonist. He will be supported by other actors from the neighbouring nation.

At a time when filmmakers have faced the wrath of certain sections of society for showcasing content that can be contradicted, is a director of his calibre afraid to present a story on such a volatile subject? “No, absolutely not. We are dealing with recent history. A lot of the resultant issues from the ’70s continue to affect our collective consciousness. A filmmaker needs to distance himself to depict things objectively. One cannot claim complete objectivity, but an attempt has to be made. Quite early on, I decided to bring on board the Bangladeshi cast. We went through many auditions before finally locking the key cast. I marvelled at the talent of these brilliant young people.”

At 87, Benegal, in the midst of promotions, is in his element. What fuels his cinematic drive to continue telling stories, even as he battles health hazards and censorship? “I wonder if my drive is any different than that of a carpenter who wishes to create a piece of furniture? Creative blocks, and exhaustion are part of the work. You recover from it eventually, and carry on, because telling stories is a way of life. I wouldn’t do it any differently.”

Last year, India and Bangladesh joined hands for a film on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to mark his birth centenary in 2020. With his mastery over the craft and insightful storytelling, acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal was entrusted the responsibility to helm the biopic.

The director, who has been putting the building blocks together since, indicates that the movie may not roll before the year-end. "I am keeping my fingers crossed. The quicker we start, the better it is for us. But it doesn't seem that [we may be able to roll] this year. It has been such an unusual year that one can't predict anything," says Benegal.

While scriptwriter Atul Tiwari had headed to the neighbouring country for research last year before developing the script, the veteran informs that the team has also zeroed in on the locations. "We will be shooting in Mumbai, Dhaka and some more places. The cast has been locked. We have roped in a Bangladeshi actor because the film will be made in Bengali," he informs, eager to introduce the younger generation to the founding father of Bangladesh. One to advocate greater autonomy for East Pakistan since the 1950s, Rahman led the movement for Bangladesh's independence and became the first president of the country.

At 85, the multiple National Award-winning filmmaker is raring to return to the sets and call for action, almost six years after Samvidhaan, his last outing on television. "There is no fear [of contracting the Coronavirus]. You have to adopt a bio-bubble mode wherever you are shooting, and ensure the place is sanitised. The main problem is maintaining a six-foot distance; when you are making a film, it's not always possible."