Shyam Benegal: I will most definitely watch ‘Padmaavat’

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus ‘Padmaavat’ has released today and it has been appreciated a lot as well. In Shyam Benegal’s TV series in the late 80s, Om Puri had portrayed the role of Alauddin Khilji which has been played now by Ranveer Singh and he was not a more ruthless man in the TV series. Seema Kelkar had the played the role of Rani and Rajendra Gupta played Rawal Ratan Singh which Shahid Kapoor has played now.


Shyam Benegal said, “His sister, Bela Sehgal, was the chief editor on the series and Sanjay was assisting her. The brother-sister duo was working together and his name even featured in the credits as part of the team that edited this particular episode (along with Dilip Panda, Chakradhar Sahu, and Ashok Swami).” He further added, “We know that Khilji laid siege on the Chittorgarh Fort and the popular belief is that he had wanted to possess Queen Padmini, known for her legendary beauty, even though he never met her. He only saw her reflection in a moat and a mirror, according to the poem.” The episodes of the TV series were aired in 1988-89 on Doordarshan.


Shyam Benegal had also used the Ghoomar song without any obligation, “'Padmaavat’ is like Kalidasa’s Meghdoot, a great classic that people know. In that part of the country, it is sung as a ballad. I got Ila Arun and a popular folk singer from Rajasthan to sing for me.” Shyam Benegal had not shown the queen performing jauhar as seen in the film to which he said, “It was difficult to depict it on screen but we did mention it. There is a reference to jauhar in the poem as well.” He also assured that he did not face any issues while shooting, “None, there were no issues. The shooting happened without incident.”


Talking about the political issues he said, “There must be some political reason for it. Some political consolidation is happening somewhere. I don’t want to speculate on it as I don’t understand the inner politics of Rajasthan where the problem appears to be.”


Finally, when asked will he watch the film he said, “Most definitely I will. I would like to know what the fuss is about.”