How a Terrorist's Story Inspired Eklavya movie

The story of the latest movie Eklavya started off based on a seed based on the real story of Abu Hassan or Ali Hassan Salameh.

“…wanting to carry on the struggle originated the idea” ~ Chopra

Here is an excerpt of the interview between Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Amitach Bacchan – director and the main actor.

It was the story of Yassar Arafat’s body guard… I think Abu Hassan. When the Mossad got him, one of his men pulled out his revolver from his body lying on the ground and took it to Abu Hassan’s home to his little son. He went up, woke the little child and said nothing. He took out the revolver, dismantled it and put it together again and gave it to the kid.

The kid took the revolver, put it under his pillow and went to sleep. This was very significant of wanting to carry on the struggle or the tradition. I don’t know what it was meant to be but that’s where the idea originated for me….

Below is a synopsis of the film (Warning: it might reveal the plot of the movie):

The film is set in contemporary India. For nine generations Eklavya’s (Amitabh Bachchan) family has guarded the Kings of Devigarh. He has only one purpose: to protect the Devigarh dynasty, the fort and the king. Eklavya has vowed to himself that whatever secrets he knows of the family will die with him on his funeral pyre. Having served the royal family all his life, he is getting old and blind.

The heir of the throne, Prince Harshwardhan (Saif Ali Khan) tired of the unfair customs ruling the land escaped to London but reluctantly returns for the funeral of his mother Queen Suhasinidevi (Sharmila Tagore). The kingdom is overjoyed with his return as is his mentally challenged twin sister, Princess Nandini (Raima Sen) and his childhood sweetheart Rajjo (Vidya Balan).

However the kingdom is torn because the farmers are being stripped of their lands. King Rana Jaywardhan (Boman Irani) along with his brother Rana Jyotiwardhan (Jackie Shroff) support the injustice to the farmers. The king receives a death threat over the phone. Pannalal Chohaar (Sanjay Dutt) investigates the threat to the king but with the kingdom already in turmoil his help may be too late. As carnage breaks the secrets of the Devigarh dynasty are revealed…