Maoists give 4 stars to 'Chakravyuh'
RANCHI: Real life Rajan and Juhi have given the thumbs up to Prakash Jha for zooming in on their cause for the big screen and putting it in the right perspective in the film, "Chakravyuh". Though it could be a coincidence but the Maoist group operative in west Champaran district in Bihar, which is the native of Jha, the producer-director of the film, has a senior leader by the name of Rajan and also a woman cadre named Juhi as has been shown in the film.
The Madhya Zonal Committee spokesperson of the CPI Maoists, Paramjeet, who has expressed gratitude for the film has, however, pointed out a few facts which are not in consonance with "their world". Madhya Zonal Committee is operative in Bihar and covers Baraharwa village in Bettiah, the home town of Jha.
Prakash Jha has denied basing his characters on real life. "I had no idea about the cadres having same names though the theme of the film is close to reality," he said.
Maoists have given full credit to the film for being close to reality. Jha on his turn has said it was possible because of intense research in finalizing the script, costumes and the plot.
Watching the movie for the Maoists was not an easy task.
Unlike usual cinema buffs who can buy tickets and watch a film in an air-conditioned theatre, they had to procure a CD from the market (probably a pirated one) and get it converted into an mp4 version before transferring it into the memory chip of a mobile phone. It was on Thursday that the arrangements were complete and the "guerrillas" sat down to watch the film. "We watched the film in groups of three or four," said Paramjeet.
They have liked the song, "Mehangai" but have objections to certain scenes. "The way cadres have been shown greeting lal salam to each other is not real because there is a particular style of handshake before we greet lal salam," said Paramjeet.
He also pointed that in one of the scenes Juhi ( Anjali Patil) is shown abusing a cadre for acting as a police informer. "Using ****** language and slangs are prohibited in the party. We follow that in practical life," he said.
The Maoists also dissented over the scene in which Kabir ( Abhay Deol) was thrashed by the squad members immediately after reading a newspaper report in which he was shown as a friend of the local SP. "In a similar situation we would immediately call a meeting of the leaders and squad members and give a chance to the accused to place his arguments before subjecting him to torture and thrashing. Decisions are taken unanimously by the group even if pointed out by any individual," said Paramjeet.
Based on reviews they have been reading in newspapers, the Maoists decided to give the film four stars. "We are not film critics but since Chakravyuh is about our life and battle, we must say that it stands out among all films made till date about the Maoist movement," said Paramjeet.
Maoists used 'outsiders' in ambush
RANCHI: In a change of tactic, the Maoists have decided not to use local rebels in any major attack. This method was used for the first time in Jharkhand during Friday's ambush on a prisoner van in Giridih.
Sources in the intelligence department said all the rebels involved in the ambush were from outside the state. "Right from planning to execution, everything was done at Jamui in Bihar. The rebel leaders sitting in Bihar used the inputs from Maoists in Jharkhand but did not share any details of the attack and how and when it will be executed," said a source.
On Friday, the rebels had attacked the van at Mahadev Chowk in Giridih, killing three policemen and one undertrial besides freeing eight of their comrades. The Maoists also got logistic support from outside Jharkhand.
Sources said the group, which included women, was last seen at a bus stand in the industrial area close to the site just before the attack.
Intelligence officers feel that the Maoists took this (using outsiders) as a test operation to check if this type of attack can be successful of not. "The rebels have successfully executed the test operation and also managed to send a message that the organization is still active and can strike at will," said an officer.
Director general of police (DGP) G S Rath also admitted that most of the planning was done at Jamui in Bihar. "The attack was led by Maoist leader Chirag, who is active in Bihar, and according to preliminary investigation, most of them, if not all, were from outside the state. The way the attack was executed we feel that the rebels also had good idea of topography and some of them, who are at present not associated with Jharkhand, must have roots in places in and around Giridih," said Rath.
The DGP said one Sahdeo Majhi who hails from Bishungarh area of Hazaribagh district may have played important role in collecting information about the movement of prisoner vehicle. At present, Majhi is a member of Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee.
