A Look Back at Prakash Jha’s *Satyagraha* on Its 12th Anniversary

Prakash Jha’s *Satyagraha* marks a departure from his previous political films, and is not a sequel to *Raajneeti*. It is inspired by Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement. The film’s narrative, particularly the relationship between Amitabh Bachchan’s character, Dwarka Anand (Dadujee), and Devgn’s Maanav Raghvendra, mirrors the real-life equation between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal. Jha, along with Anjum Rajabali, his co-writer, transformed the themes of Hazare’s movement into a compelling and thought-provoking drama. From the beginning, Jha’s political ideology and its cinematic interpretation have been intertwined. Emotional depth and character development have sometimes been sacrificed in his films. The film *Aarakshan* shows the emotional austerity. Similarly, in *Satyagraha*, the relationship between Bachchan’s character and his widowed daughter-in-law could have been explored further. However, Bachchan’s acting conveys much about his character’s emotions. There’s a poignant moment with Amrita Rao. The film presents a world of politics and national awakening. Dwarka Anand has a single sequence to show how much he misses his son. The scene of grief is short. In another sequence, Bachchan and Devgn share a son-like bond. Emotional expression is rare in this story. Devgn’s fondness for Kareena Kapoor’s character and a romantic song seem out of place. The film focuses on the country’s future. Jha’s work is centered on socio-political reform. The film depicts the mobilization of youth through the internet. *Satyagraha* questions the validity of mass movements. Manoj Bajpai’s portrayal of a corrupt politician is a highlight. Devgn, in his role, could have been explored more deeply. Arjun Rampal’s role is limited. While the main actors perform well, some supporting characters are overplayed. The film’s message is a call to action. The film deserves praise for its portrayal of corruption. Kareena Kapoor Khan played a seasoned political journalist in the film, with a strong ideological bent. Her character was modelled on CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. Prakash Jha wanted Kareena to understand how much heart Amanpour brings to her news reportage. Amitabh Bachchan’s character in *Satyagraha* was based on the anti-corruption campaign of Anna Hazare. Jha also felt that a less hardline approach is needed to deal with corruption.