Lok-Nayak – A Prakash Jha Film

Last night I started my TV set, which never had a cable connection. Usually I don't have patience to sit before the box for any movie or soap.
Surprise to me the movie Lok-Nayak was going to start. This is a bio-epic on the life of Jai Prakash Narayan, the great contemporary thinker from Bihar, made by Prakash Jha. Again Prakash Jha have succeeded to bring forth the widely talked issues of Jaiprakash Narayan’s (JP) life quite efficiently. There is a good balance between the documentary and a real life drama in the movie. Prakash succeeded to touch the delicate issues related to JP's life like his role in emergency, the couple's decision to lead a "brahmacharya" life ,the surrendering of dacoits of MP.

For me, I have been interested in Prakash Jha and his movies since 1990, because our Principal Dr.S.N.Jha taught him at Sainik School, Tilaiya. Quoting him Dr. S. N. Jha inspired us to take part in the dramas and he made us an instant stage setter for the cultural activity within the notice of 12 hours. Any one here from the first batch of JNVP ? Moreover Prakash Jha is the creator of some of the well-known movies like Gangaajal, Damul and Hip-Hip Hurray.
In this film too his craftsmanship included the interviews of some of his near associates. Although most interviews seemed to be the dumb statement of his life history and very few voices seemed to stick the principles of JP. The film seemed to be short and running fast. The photography and the music is appreciable. The scene in which JP's wife was dying on bed after taking the hands of JP and telling him to chant “RAM SHREE RAM” will leave an impact on some atheists. These are the moments, when the great weakness of human comes out, when he have no laws, no ethics, and when humanity overtakes everything. The film is a reflection of Prakash's in depth study of the contemporary politics. May Prakash Jha is confirming his decision to join the politics of Bihar. His independent thinking may not lead to any particular party. But let's see what the future have in store. Will this Prakash will follow the footsteps of predecessor Prakash for implementation of his principles in the society