Mrityunjay Devvrat’s ‘Children Of War’ is a shocking reminder of the brutalities of the 1971 Bangladesh-Pakistan war. Here, the lead actors talk about their roles and how the film has exposed them to certain horrific truths:
Raima Sen: I will be seen as Fida, a journalist who is married to Amir (Indraneil Sengupta). She is a victim of the atrocities of the Bangladeshi genocide. This is the most powerful role I have done so far. Being a Bengali, I could connect to the harsh realities shown in the film.
Tillotama Shome: What amazed me about Bhitika, my character, is her desire to fight for freedom, despite being raped and subjected to violence repeatedly. Anybody in her place would have given up on life. It was a complicated role and it was important for me to understand her psyche.
Pavan Malhotra: I play Malik, an army officer from West Pakistan. Power-drunk and brutal, he looks down upon everyone. I have been asked how it was playing Malik and I maintain that as an actor, I believe in doing diverse roles. This film helped me realise that all wars are about power and arrogance. If ego and greed did not exist, there would be peace in the world.
Indraneil Sengupta: Amir is a dutiful journalist who stands up for the truth. He refuses to succumb to the army’s power and ends up paying a heavy price for it. Playing Amir drained me out. We shot continuously for over 20 nights and that took a toll on me. But the hardships notwithstanding, the film was an educative journey. I never knew something like rape camps existed till I did this film. Most importantly, I got to work with the late Farooque Shaikh; it’s an experience that will stay with me forever.
source:Times of India