'Court' compels the audience to think: Protest musician Sambhaji Bhagat

How do you feel after the fantastic response that Court received in India and across the world?

We made the film with complete sincerity and were not even thinking about awards while working on it. So the recognition that the film has received across the world is an absolute joy. It is truly great that a movie which has shown the sufferings of the common man has achieved this kind of success and this makes me really happy.

But in India and across the world, there are more and more attempts to curtail the freedom of expression in cinema which is a matter of serious concern. This is a result of the increasing grip of capitalism across the world, which in turns shrinks the democratic space. So in this scenario, it is a huge victory when a film like Court gets worldwide acceptance as it gives a voice to those who have always faced oppression.

What kind of response have you received for the music in the film?

I have got a good response for my music. Even if some people may not like the film, they will certainly enjoy the music, because music is something that people of all ages like to listen. Wherever I have performed songs from the movie, people have responded well to it. Moreover, the very music form which was earlier suppressed is now out on the big screen. 

People are tired of listening to the same old kind of songs that the industry belts out. They want to listen to something different, something new. My music is derived from the music of the common people. I travel to the hinterlands, visit tribals, spend time with people and understand their concerns.

How do you think the movie managed to find mainstream recognition and attention with its offbeat content?

Well, there were times when more films like Court were being made, but these days movies have more superficial content than good content. To be loud and glitzy is all that movies are about today. Court makes its point quietly and the audience seems to have liked this form of narration. We did not even make too much of a bang to promote the release and yet the film has got a great response.

The viewer has a conscience, but these days people are chasing superficial things. This superficiality has made them lose touch with the truth. But the audience has appreciated the honesty with which Court has been made and the realism in it. It caught media attention only after it got the National Award. My team held jalsas (cultural shows) across cities like Pune, Nashik, Nagpur to promote the film. If the state too supports films like these, it will be very helpful.

Do you expect the movie to inspire other filmmakers to pick up and explore these subjects more now?

I hope people don’t merely copy the film. (laughs) When I was working for Ardha Satya, we never thought it would become a trend-setting film. Because at that time, no one imagined a stark film taking on the police brutality could work. But after that movie did well at the box office, many such films were attempted. But yes, I hope it inspires sincere people who want to take on subjects that don’t find much space. 

Can you talk about why you feel the film is so relevant today?

The movie has good form and good content. A film like Court will compel the audience to think, so it is a very important film. Chaitanya (Tamhane) and Vivek (Gomber) are honest kids. They wanted to know more about the culture of protest music and a protest musician. They were researching for the film when they came to me to understand protest music. We worked together for six to eight months before work on the film started. 

So how did you like Vira Sathidar, who played Narayan Kamble's character in the film? 

I've known Vira for a long time, he belongs to the movement himself so he could quickly pick up traits of the character. I am really happy for all the applause he is getting. He has done a good job essaying the role of a protest musician.

What is your take on the recent censorship controversy in India?

We didn't think about censorship while creating the film. 

So what's next for lok shahir Sambhaji Bhagat?

I will be where the movement needs me to be, be it performing my music at slums, villages, on stage or composing music and writing lyrics. The medium is not important, the message and the ideology is.

I have written lyrics for two Marathi films, Sarpanch Bagirathi and Nagrik and I am also researching for a play. 

Listen to one of the songs from the movie here: