HARRY BAWEJA: Sealing Sikh history from Real to Reel …

Harry Baweja, the vision behind the historic film Chaar Sahibzaade – Heros the world must know, speaks to ‘Singh and Kaur’ about the journey behind making the film. The animation film based on the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s four sons, has received critical acclaim, love and support from all around the world.

Having given Bollywood hits for over 2 decades, Harry is now dedicated to making a series of films on Sikh history and we delve more into what it takes to do so …

When you started making films, more than two decades ago, did you ever have in mind that you would make a Punjabi film on Sikh History, such as Chaar Sahibzaade?

No! 27 years back I did not even imagine so. But yes way back in 1976 when I was just 19 hears of age, I had written and directed a play on Jesus. It was after the success of this play that I wanted to write and direct a play on the life of The Sikh Gurus, which did not happen as life took a different turn then.

I was a student of a Sikh Convent School way back in 1962 from grade 3 to 8. We had a Gurudwara in our Dagshai Public School near Kumarhatti, off Solan (Simla hills). It was compulsory for all to attend the Gurudwara every morning and evening. That is where I heard ‘Sakhis’ (real life stories) of our Gurus and learnt so much about Sikhi. When I heard the Sakhi of Chaar Sahibzaade, I never knew I would be making a film on them some day.

What was the moment when this idea/film struck your mind and you knew there was no going back?

Well I think God has his own ways. I started to think, God has been so kind to me, and there must be a way to thank him. One day I said to myself, ‘what better way to thank Him than making a film on Sikh history?!’ I managed to set up a meeting with the SGPC president in 2009. I proposed that I wanted to make a four part series of films on the life of all the Ten Gurus. It was instantly rejected.

That rejection made me go back more strongly with various options until three years later in 2012 I got the permission to make an Animation film on the four sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Did you predict the kind of impact Chaar Sahibzaade would have?

As I mentioned earlier, the idea to do something on my religion was nurturing in my mind since I was 19 years of age but I never predicted anything about it. Yes, I did not expect that this film would have such an impact on the audience, some impact yes, that is why I wanted to make it, but the impact it had, well we all saw it was unimaginable.

How challenging was it to bring toscreen a story that is already so emotionally sensitive to so many people?

Very difficult. There is so much history, so much information but one has to keep the length of the film in mind and yet make sure you tell all that people expect, keeping the facts correct and the sanctity in place. Challenging. It took me years to write it, as I had to put in lot of research and lot of travelling to look for facts, terrains, and history to put the story together.

Then when it came to the screenplay it was even more difficult. The flow of the narrative, the emotions, the martyrdoms of all the four Sahibzaade needed to be projected rightly in the correct spirit.

And then came the writing of the dialogues, which was a huge task. The language was tricky because I had to use words which were not too ‘real’ Punjabi such that the commoner and the youngster of today could understand, but still not taking away the essence of the language used then.

Overall a tough task. But then I had Him with me always….

What kind of preparation process did a movie like Chaar Sahibzaade take?

Preparation had to be in a lot many ways; for example, locations- there was no ‘real’ reference. Anandpur Sahib had no reference but then a lot of reading gave you an insight of what it could have been like at the time of the Gurus. So it was then designed according to what I thought could have been then, and coordinating my thoughts with the other architecture references of that era.

Costumes and weapons etc along with many other aspects. The list can go on…..

Also, was there any different set of technical difficulties, apart from the usual where a filmmaker strives for the best quality?

Yes. It was difficult creating quality acceptable in a budget that was negligible. I just had 0.6% of the budget of a Hollywood animation film that is a minimum of $300 million, to complete this in an acceptable quality. We did the best we could keeping in mind our limitations.

The fact that we are not permitted to animate our Gurus and show them in still form only, was a challenge. Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was an integral part of the story. A lot of thinking for months went into all the scenes that depicted Him. The ‘Pandey Khan Challenge’ scene of Guru Sahib was an addition in the script. I wanted to show Guru Sahib’s strength in a battle. So I started digging into history in search of an incident that could establish this. After a lot of research, this was one scene that excited me. But the question arose how do I shoot/animate this scene? I can’t make Guru Sahib attack or defend, as I cannot animate Him, so how do I shoot it? One month of mind application and I finally found my way out!   It indeed is so satisfying now, when people declare it as their favourite scene of the film.

Tell us a bit about your spiritual journey as well throughout the years of making this film. (Example: did all the in-depth research make you more spiritually connected)

I am a very spiritual person. My childhood schooling did it for me. I still remember one incident. Our divinity teacher once told us that we must remember to take the name of Waheguru and the person who utters the name of Waheguru just before he dies goes to heaven. I was in a boarding school and in grade three then. Every night before I slept, I would remind myself to not forget that when I die I must say Waheguru, this went on until I matured enough to understand that I didn’t need to remind myself anymore, as by then the ‘naam’ was imbedded in my spiritual system.

It indeed was a divine journey writing and working on the film, as if I was being guided by Him at every stage. I believe it is He who made the film. I was just the human- the physical self, needed to execute it.  I feel blessed.

Has the experience of making Chaar Sahibzaade, changed you as a person?

Though I wasn’t a bad person before, but yes it made me a better one.

How has the response of fellow Sikhs been before and after the film?

Unbelievable! But also scary, because one needs to live up to their expectations with the next film.

Did you feel the pressure of responsibility as well? Or a threat/fear of extremists catching onto small details of the film? Or were you sure you would do justice to everything involved?

It was a huge responsibility. I had taken a task to tell a story, which each one who saw the film had heard it a dozen of times before. Each one of them had a set imagination of how the incidents in the story unfolded. I have had to outlive the mind of each one them!

Well, every Sikh thinks he knows more than anyone else and only he knows the best about the Sikh religion. I had to beat this assumption. There are about 38 million Sikhs, so it was not going to be easy and it wasn’t. There were people who came up with absurd objections when the trailers were being played on Tv, but I saw myself getting through.

It was a sensitive subject. I was touching religion. I was depicting the Guru’s family. I was showing history. I was showing the true side of incidents, which many were not aware. It was a difficult path, but I tried my best to do justice to all aspects, and I did try very hard.

What is the crux of the driving force for you behind making a film?

The passion to create a new world, to tell a new story.

Share with us a typical working day of yours.

Its 3 am I am still at work. There are no timings. It is as per the need of the hour. But I get my breaks. They help me recharge, to go all out again!

Your next animation film is also on Sikh history, what is that story about?

It is the sequel to the first one and starts where the first one ended. Titled Chaar Sahibzaade 2, Rise Of Banda Singh Bahadur.

Any plans for more regular masala – Bollywood films as well at the moment?

Yes! In the pipeline, at the planning stage.

Apart from films, what all are you passionate about?

Music.

What would be an ideal getaway/vacation for you?

A quiet holiday in the mountains.

What tips would you give to aspiring filmmakers?

Believe in yourself and don’t be amongst the crowd. Make what YOU conceive. Don’t curb your ideas. You may not find many takers to start with, but in the end you will be standing tall.