'My blood boiled when Pakistanis attacked Kargil'

Stunt director Tinu Verma, started his career in the Hindi film industry in 1976. He has won awards for action in films like Ghayal, Border, Khuda Gawah, Darr, Ziddi, Arjun Pandit and Pukar.

He debuted as an actor in Mela, where his character of villainous Gujjar Singh earned him a lot of appreciation.

The talented athlete has also directed the action in the Pepsi-on-the-go advertisement.

His straightforwardness has made, and retained, him president of the Movies Stunt Artists Association, for the past ten years.

Now, he has turned to film direction.

The charming host, who is more known for his alleged affairs and hot temper than his commitment towards his work, talks to Darshana Dube.

What is Maa Tujhe Salaam all about?

The plot revolves around the attempts made by the Pakistan army, whose mission is to have a hold over Kashmir, to capture the bunker of Indian soldiers in Kargil within four months. But their efforts prove futile as the Indian army drives them out in spite of challenges like betrayal by fellow countrymen.

Jonbad, a small village in Kargil, is the main center of action.

Where is the film shot?

It is shot in Kulu Manali, where we constructed the set of the Jonbad village on the snow, complete with the Lala's haveli, Durgah, market, the works.

Tell us about the star cast.

Sunny plays Major Pratap Singh and Tabu plays an officer in the Intelligence Bureau. Arbaaz Khan and newcomer Monal are another pair. Besides them, Sudesh Beri, Vivek Shroff, Indra Kumar and Sharad Saxena also have a significant role.

What is it about Sunny Deol that makes him the first choice for patriotic films like Border, Gadar and now Maa Tujhe Salaam?

Sunny comes across as a very authentic son of the soil, with the right Indian values. With his simplicity and disciplined soldier-like aura, he evokes patriotic emotions in the audience.

How important is the female lead in Hindi movies today, considering the fact that ours is a male dominated society?

It all depends on the story and the script.

How much importance have you given the female lead in Maa Tujhe Salaam?

Tabu has a very important role.

Right from the time of conception, I had decided to give the female lead a meaningful character that would be woven in the story. Even Monal, the second female lead has a significant role, instead of just dancing around trees.

How have you tried to make the film patriotic?

The Jawans told me stories about the frostbites and other dire conditions under which they fight for the country. That really moved me. I have tried to portray the same in the film, by showing them fighting in the worst weather conditions, so that the country feels the patriotic emotion.

I have given a very authentic treatment to the film so that people can relate to it.

What inspired you to take up the Kargil issue?

Like many Indians, my blood boiled when the Pakistanis attacked Kargil and so many people died. One feels worse considering the fact that Kashmir belongs to us! Pakistan's unfair demand should never be fulfilled, even if we have to sacrifice a lot.

I felt so strongly about this that I decided to make a film so that the people of my country is always inspired to feel this emotion.

What tone have you given the songs?

There are six songs in the film, composed by Sajid-Wajid.

Only the climax song has a patriotic tone, the other ones are romantic and situational. One of the songs is picturised on Malaika.

But all the songs have the Hindustani feel.

And dances?

Rekha Chinni Prakash has choreographed one dance and I have given a break to a new team, Richie & Jims.

Tell us about your role in the film.

I play the main villain, Lala, who supports the Pakistani agents. But it is quite a tough job acting and directing at the same time. Next time, I will not do both.

Any special sequence that you enjoyed shooting?

The climax scene. The scene where Major Pratap Singh fights thousands of terrorists was quite a challenge. But I enjoyed doing it. I shot it from a height of 100 feet, tied mid-air by a rope.

Was it tough shooting in the snow?

You bet! It was as tough as teaching Lallu Prasad to speak English!

We shot for hours with the temperature as low as minus three!

Besides, it was very tough to carry the equipment to a height. We used to have 25 people with belcha from the Belcha department to help us cut the snow and make way, followed by a caravan of 25 cars, generator vans, five buses etc.

Once during a heavy snowfall, Sunny's Mercedes skidded so badly that he would have landed in a 100 feet-deep valley. It was his timely action of switching the engine off that saved him! I don't think I'll be able to do it again. It was really tough! But I am proud of my team who stuck on bravely like soldiers.

Which are the other scenes you enjoyed directing?

The rape scene of Monal. There was a chase, after which she falls and rolls over for several feet on the snow. The whole thing was done in one shot. This kind of action has not been seen on the Indian screen before. It was very dangerous as the whole unit went rolling. My brother broke his arm. It could have been fatal.

As a matter of fact, the whole movie was a challenge as it was shot entirely in the snow. Such a long duration on the snow was a first experience for me.

Even the scene where Arbaaz Khan rescues Gul Khan from Pakistan under the nose of thousands of Mujahideens is a terrific scene.

Which is your favorite patriotic film?

Border. The action scenes were directed by me.

Maa Tujhe Salaam is slated for release on August 10.