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Prasoon Joshi, the script-writer and lyricist for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, speaks to Aabhas Sharma about the challenges of writing about a living legend and how it was like playing a 'psychoanalyst'
What research did you do to write Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?
It took me nearly three years to write the script. It was about unearthing deeper truths and feelings - ones that were perhaps in Milkha Singh's subconscious but had not been expressed. It was like being a psychoanalyst and writer rolled into one. I studied the sporting history, but more keenly the socio-political environment of the country at the time - the trauma of Partition where my fondness for Saadat Hasan) Manto's work really helped. It was about getting into the skin of the character and then manifesting it through a story, scenes and dialogues. There were several interactions with Milkhaji; I spent hours talking to him and trying to understand him as a person. For me, it's not a story and a film about the athlete alone; it's about carving out the man, Milkha Singh.
Biopics call for utmost honesty and this being India's first biopic on a living sportsperson, how tricky was it to execute?
There were a number of draft I wrote and re-wrote. I had to chip away several of my favourite scenes as they were not taking the narrative forward what we had in mind. Honesty to the DNA of the person was paramount whilst writing the script as it dives deep into his mind and also explores his character in a multidimensional way, infusing imagination into reality. The challenge was to retain the authenticity of the real character along with the writer's take and create a delicious balance between reality and drama. Dramatisation is important, for that's the need of the medium. But to stay true to the character whilst constructing scenes, his responses and ensuring that there is no false note is what my attempt has been in writing. The effort will only succeed when every line, every scene reeks of authenticity.
Was Milkha Singh involved with the script?
I'd spent enough time initially with Milkhaji at his home in Chandigarh to understand his life and his DNA. After that he only saw the film on screen late last month. He was moved, laughed, related to it, shed tears at several junctures and gave his blessing.
What was the most difficult and the most gratifying part of the project?
The good: exploring a new subject like sports and finding and crafting the human story of a sportsman's life; working with Rakeysh [Om Prakash Mehra], with whom I share a well-hewn and long relationship; getting to know Farhan Akhtar and seeing him mentally and physically transform himself; being delighted by the effervescence that Sonam Kapoor brought to her pivotal role. It was challenging to write both the script and the songs. Through the scenes and dialogues I had said everything, so to add another layer through songs was not easy. I took a gap of about three months after the script to get cracking on the songs.
The movie is set in a time when Indian soldiers wore white vests. But in the film, we see them wearing olive green. It's a minor slip, but in a well-researched film, it sticks out. Your comments
I don't want to comment on this as Army protocol is involved.
Are you working on another film on Milkha Singh and plan to direct it?
This film concentrates on certain parts of his life. It peaks at when he was in his early twenties. There is so much more to his life, for example his relationship with his son, Jeev, that is material for a storywriter. As far as direction goes, no such plans.
