Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’
Duggar Pradesh has the privilege of having Padma Sachdev, who has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards including ‘Padma Shree’ , the fourth highest civilian award of Republic of India. Popularly known as ‘ BOBO JI’ in art arena as the torch bearer of Duggar Culture, Traditions, Heritage and mother tongue DOGRI in particular. Prasar Bharati offered poignant tributes to her by telecasting a film “Des Nikala” on its various networks on 5 August, a day after she left for heavenly abode on 4 August 2021. The film directed by Anoop Khajuria, an award winning DD producer and a lad from the Jammu city has successfully portrayed in the film the quintessential characteristics of the poetess and the city which was so loved by her through her poetic and prose writings. Here is an excerpt from an interview Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’ had with Anoop Khajuria to recall the same as a tribute to ‘BOBO JI’:
Rajeshwar: What is “Des Nikala” is all about? Can you tell us more about the central idea and its making with Padma Sachdev ?
Anoop Khajuria: The title of the film or a feature is based on the famous poem of Padma Ji, ” Kun Akhada Des Nakala Nai?” It depicts the pain of the poet when she had to migrate from her city to other urban densities due to her circumstances; it was not less than the feeling of an exile for her. I made this expression the central theme of my film. That’s why the film is about a poetess, about a city and about all those who are facing the pain of migration. When I was planning the film, I knew there are several productions based on her achievements, awards and accolades. I wished to touch upon her pains and pleasures, her inner conscience and her connections with the city.
Rajeshwar: After watching “Des Nikala”, the feeling of Padma Ji still being with us reverberates; She is the protagonist. She is the narrator. But film really talks about the city and its changing character.
Anoop Khajuria: The impressions of the place we spent so many years never change. The migration imparts distances but the memories are the same when we leave the place. But the city, its people are changing. Those who are living in those spaces do not feel it as the changes are getting slowly imbibed. But it is a shock for the migrant as the city of her memory no longer exists. I think two poets expressed it very well. C P Cavafy, the famous Greek poet in his poem “The city” and Padma Sachdev in her many poems especially ” Kun Akhada Des Nakala nai?”.(Who says it is not an exile?) Padma ji re-visits her memory lanes of Raje di Mandi, Dhonthly, Julaka Mohalla, Tawi, Begum Haveli, Radio Station, Pacci Dhaki Nostalgic poet confronts with her memories and the reality.
Rajeshwar : How was your experience working with her for Des Nikala ?
Anoop Khajuria: She was fabulous. She was an artist. Though the script was written, yet she would tell me to narrate it. After listening, she would deliver the perfect lines. Hardly a re-take. She was very emotional about old Jammu. We shot a portion of the film in Pacci Dhaki in a Gali leading to the house of Pt. Dinu Bhai Pant Ji. I could see emotions on her face. That was the lane witness to her growing as a young poetess. Therefore, I made that lane as a symbol of Padma Ji’s journey from her childhood to the youth as we did with river Tawi. Tawi is the not only quintessential example of a flowing journey of water but a symbol of migration too.
Rajeshwar : I think, this would remain as the most memorable piece of work as these are the images of Padma Sachdev in the realm of old Jammu city and her inspiring story.
Anoop Khajuria: Obviously. No doubt that our old city has a unique character. Nowhere else we find such a texture. Settings we chose for placing Padma Ji were unique. We selected a custodian house in Julaka Mohalla which was situated on the top of the hill. The front courtyard gave us the exquisite view of Jammu as a city that was founded on a hillock. Tawi River and all the typical ascending and descending lanes so akin to the old city were in our frames. She wanted a few takes of Hanuman Mandir Pacca Danga. But she was startled to see that façade of the temple that was used to be open has been covered by a cemented gate. The old ambience was lost. Similar was the conditions of old houses. The family divisions had changed the texture of front façade. Use of Drama was the best device to reveal the city, its lanes and by-lanes and citadel, a leisure back attitude of the city but all integral oneness of social fabric.
Rajeshwar: You have very appropriately used the background music. How did you plan it?
Anoop Khajuria: Padma Ji’s poetry has a stylistic and technical achievement. It’s an engagement with pains, memories, romance and Duggar Dogras. Her songs brim with the variety in tone, form and content. ‘Bhakhs’ and its varied tones depicting all forms of human emotions have also been used as the music component of this film. Padma Ji was very keen to bring in the folk traditions ‘Bhakh’ and ‘Geetroo’ in our treatment. Radio Jammu helped us immensely. The musical treatment of the film has been liked by people belonging from South, West and East. Padma Ji was very fond of Krishna Kumari and Pradhuman Singh Ji. We have used both the voices.
I am fortunate that the film was also seen by Padma Ji with her family in Mumbai and her appreciation for my work will remain an inspiration for me throughout my life. Its painstaking that while we were waiting for the suitable slot in the prime time that the sudden news of Padma Ji’s demise was shared by Gyaneshwar Ji, her younger brother. It is a moving tribute from Prasar Bharati to its former announcer and news reader and also to a great poetess who was an ambassador of the Dogri language the world over.
Padma Sachdev will remain in the memories of literature lovers and all Dogras through her outstanding literary contributions in Hindi in general and Dogri in particular. She will continue inspiring and guide us to step ahead with a realization towards our obligations as the inhabitant of our beloved Duggar Pradesh.
Let us feel it.
Let us make her dreams a reality.
Let it be a Real Tribute.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
