Sunny's super sound Why patriotic films will always lure this Deol

Som Chivukula

This summer, audiences get four Bollywood films on the same topic --- three of them are being released within a week.

The only romance film on the agenda is Yash Chopra's Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, starring Jimmy Shergill, Sanjana, Uday Chopra, and directed by Sanjay Gadhvi.

The films are on Shaheed Bhagat Singh, one of Punjab's most popular historical figures: The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed-E-Azam and 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Tarun Wadhwaa, Sukumar Nair and Guddu Dhanoa respectively.

With such tight competition, those associated with their respective films are making the rounds in the media trying to do all they can to gain an upper hand. Sunny Deol's company Vijeta Films brings to life 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed, starring younger brother Bobby Deol. It releases June 7, the same day as Santoshi's The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, starring Ajay Devgan. Sonu Sood's Shaheed-E-Azam released May 31.

Director Guddu Dhanoa reunites with Bobby Deol, with whom he made Bichhoo two years ago, in 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed. It was not smooth sailing for the 23rd March team.

Early this year, a fire broke out on its sets that reportedly caused damage upwards of Rs 10 million ($200,000). The production, by the Deol brothers' father Dharmendra, remained unfazed and rebounded with zeal. Sunny Deol was in America for the last couple of months juggling various projects and mixing in appearances at community programmes, shared his thoughts about his upcoming film.

Deol plays Chandrasekhar Azad, one of the freedom fighters that inspired Bhagat Singh. "No one knows how and why the fire took place," he says in a telephone conversation from Northern California. "It didn't lower our morale. In fact our spirits were high as we came back."

A similar incident occurred on the set of Devdas, another highly awaited film made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. To his credit, Bhansali also managed to finish the movie on time and it was screened at the recent 55th Cannes International Film Festival.

Film festivals are not of concern to Deol. He raced to finish a film and put together a polished product in order to beat the competition. "Some mishaps happen. These instances were of fire," Deol, 43, says. "But we are confident about our film since we have captured the life of Bhagat Singh.

"The sets were rebuilt and the costs were high," he adds without revealing the entire budget.

Last year, Deol starred in Anil Sharma's Gadar -- Ek Prem Katha, another film with an historical theme. Deol is certain that 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed will find a place in the hearts of audiences as Gadar did.

"With Gadar, period films became popular since they were good stories," Deol states. "We are confident this film, too, will do well commercially."

Deol has been attracted to this project for quite some time. Bhagat Singh was a freedom fighter and a revolutionary in every sense of the word, he notes. When leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru took the path of nonviolence, Singh had his own way of overhauling the British Raj.

While much of history focuses on Gandhi and Nehru, Singh's exploits are not as well known. A 1965 film, Shaheed, starring the venerable Manoj Kumar was received well. Now, the life and times of Bhagat Singh are exposed again. The date in the title of the Deol film refers to the day Singh was hanged by the British for treason. Singh was just 23 but left a legacy of a lifetime behind.

"The most important thing for me is that people connect with the character. The world has forgotten these people," Deol says. "With these films, it makes the newer generation appreciate what these guys were about. Whether or not the films do well commercially, at least they serve as an education [tool]."

Deol claims he has remained true to Singh's life and preserved the integrity of facts, including the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He is also proud of brother Bobby's performance in the lead role. "A lot of research went into recreating the sets and Bobby's role," Deol explains. "From the story point, we are not changing anything. Bobby's [physical] features are perfect for playing Bhagat Singh."

The supporting cast is also impressive. Amrita Singh, who debuted with Deol in the early 1980s in Betaab, plays Singh's mother. Aishwarya Rai has a guest role as his fiancιe. Deol states the film's music, composed by Anand Raaj Anand, has also been well received.

While in America, Deol is also busy shooting for Anil Sharma's Hero, costarring Preity Zinta and Priyanka Chopra. "It is a spy thriller with a love story," Deol says. "It also has Amrish Puri and Kabir Bedi. That's all I can say now."

While passion and integrity go a long way in making a good film, it remains to be seen whether a historical film, or four, can capture audiences. In Deol's case, he doesn't have just commercial success on his mind. It's a home production with his family's reputation on the line.