Decoding Sam Manekshaw: Meghna Gulzar’s Quest for Comprehensive Storytelling

Crafting Sam Bahadur: Meghna Gulzar Dives into the Making of the Film Set to Release on ZEE5 on January 26

This excerpt highlights the collaboration between director Meghna Gulzar and actor Vicky Kaushal in the film “Sam Bahadur,” marking their reunion after the success of “Raazi.” The movie, released on December 1, received positive reviews and strong word of mouth. It serves as a biopic on Sam Manekshaw, India’s first Field Marshal, spanning four decades of his remarkable life.

In the interview, Gulzar discusses the meticulous research undertaken to portray the life of Sam Manekshaw authentically in the film “Sam Bahadur.” She emphasizes the importance of ensuring that every detail in the narrative feels genuine. Furthermore, Gulzar expresses her focus on the narrative itself, underscoring that the story holds paramount significance to her as a filmmaker.

Meghna Gulzar may have discussed her interest in Sam Manekshaw’s life during the making of “Raazi,” given that she has a penchant for real-life stories. Regarding Vicky Kaushal, she might have shared insights into the casting process and whether she always envisioned him in the role of Sam Manekshaw.

Meghna Gulzar’s statement provides insight into her initial discussions about Sam Manekshaw with Vicky Kaushal during the making of “Raazi.” At that early stage, there was no script, and they were in the research phase. Gulzar emphasizes that her focus during those interactions was on conveying her admiration for Sam Manekshaw as a person. She finds him extremely inspiring and fascinating, expressing a lasting awe for him.

This sheds light on the director’s deep appreciation for the real-life character, which eventually played a role in shaping the decision to make a film dedicated to Sam Manekshaw’s life, titled “Sam Bahadur “.

Meghna Gulzar’s account highlights the serendipitous nature of the collaboration with Vicky Kaushal for “Sam Bahadur.” She indicates that the formal approach to Vicky occurred after she had the script ready, and this happened during the post-production phase of her film “Chhapaak.”

When she reached out to Vicky with the story, he expressed eagerness to be a part of it, stating he had been waiting for her to ask. Gulzar reflects on the organic and destined feel of the entire process, suggesting that the coming together of the team for “Sam Bahadur” was not meticulously planned but felt like a natural alignment of circumstances.

Meghna Gulzar expresses gratitude and fulfillment regarding the success of “Sam Bahadur.” She credits producer Ronnie Screwvala’s acumen for strategic decisions, such as the release date, highlighting that it’s the producer’s call. Gulzar appreciates Screwvala’s belief in the film, and she’s grateful that the audience’s love and validation have reflected the hard work invested in the project.

Meghna Gulzar, as a filmmaker, might have had concerns about encapsulating four decades of Sam Manekshaw’s journey in “Sam Bahadur.” The abundance of historical events and the legacy left behind could present challenges in crafting a cohesive narrative.

Meghna Gulzar addresses the challenge of handling multiple episodes in Sam Manekshaw’s life in “Sam Bahadur.” She, along with writers Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Srivastava, worked meticulously on the script to ensure a seamless narrative.

Their goal was to cover essential and fascinating incidents and milestones in a way that provides a comprehensive understanding of Sam Manekshaw’s life. By exploring both significant and seemingly smaller experiences, such as being the first punished at the Indian Military Academy, the filmmakers aimed to depict the full arc of his journey—from adversity to becoming India’s first Field Marshal. Their approach was to present a nuanced and comprehensive portrayal rather than focusing on isolated chapters of his life.

Meghna Gulzar underscores the importance of authenticity in depicting military uniforms and ribbons in “Sam Bahadur.” She expresses concern about the film industry sometimes facing criticism for inaccuracies in portraying these details. Gulzar and her team were determined to create a film with zero errors, considering it a significant challenge. The commitment to accuracy in military uniforms and ribbons became a priority for the entire team, emphasizing their collective effort to ensure precision in these crucial aspects of the film.

Meghna Gulzar shares insights into the challenges of incorporating authentic action sequences in “Sam Bahadur.” She playfully mentions that the film almost felt like a compilation of all her previous films, incorporating action in a way that redeems the absence of it in her earlier works.

However, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity in the action scenes corresponding to the respective time periods, such as the 1942 setting or the events of the 1960s and the 1971 war. Gulzar acknowledges the crucial role of action director Parvez Sheikh in achieving this authenticity, especially in considering the nuances of fighting with wooden rifles and adapting combat styles to each historical context while still ensuring aesthetic and exciting sequences.

Meghna Gulzar highlights the collaborative effort of various departments in the filmmaking process for “Sam Bahadur.” She mentions the synergy among the action team, production design team, cinematographer, and choreographer Vijay Ganguly. The incorporation of action and choreography in the song “Badhte Chalo” presented a unique and fascinating experience for Gulzar. She emphasizes that such seamless integration can only happen when the entire team works together cohesively, and this collaborative effort translates into a cohesive and impactful result on screen.

Meghna Gulzar addresses the perception of her films growing in scale and explains that the size of a film is not intentionally increased. She attributes the scope of each film to the inherent requirements of the story. Using examples, she contrasts the canvas sizes of “Talvar,” focused on an investigation in a flat, to “Raazi,” which involved travel from India to Pakistan in 1971, and then to “Sam Bahadur,” spanning four decades from 1932 to 1973, covering a larger canvas. Gulzar emphasizes that the expansive nature of “Sam Bahadur” is dictated by the story’s chronology and the locations associated with Sam Manekshaw’s life, rather than a deliberate attempt to make each film bigger than the previous one based on success.

Meghna Gulzar emphasizes that the size and scope of her films are dictated by the story itself. She clarifies that her decision to work on a particular story is not influenced by a desire to surpass the scale of her previous films. For Gulzar, the primary consideration is the inspiration and significance of the story. As a filmmaker, she adheres to the instinct of being honest and keeping things simple. This guiding principle, she suggests, helps everything else fall into place during the filmmaking process.

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