Ahead of the October 16 release of ‘Prahaar’, public prosecutor and Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam has spoken about the 26/11 Mumbai attacks trial, which his life story and the film are built around. The film stars Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi. The prosecutor said that the case against Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, was never about one man alone.
Ujjwal Nikam says ‘Prahaar’ focuses on the courtroom battle
‘Prahaar’ is based on Ujjwal Nikam’s life and the court proceedings that ended with Ajamal Kasab being hanged. Many films have been made on the 26/11 attacks, but Ujjwal Nikam said that this one takes a different route. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, he said, “It is essentially a film about the court proceedings. You won’t see any sensationalisation of a character.”Nikam added that the makers did extensive groundwork. “Two and a half years of research went into the film, including the story and what was said during the court proceedings.”Director Avinash Arun also sat through the arguments in court and later discussed the material with Rajkummar Rao, who plays Ujjwal Nikam. The makers have kept things realistic as well. The public prosecutor said, “To ensure authenticity, real names have been used, including that of the judge.”
‘There is no dramatisation’: Ujjwal Nikam on Prahaar’s approach
Asked how closely the film reflects his experience, Ujjwal Nikam was clear that the makers stuck to the record. He shared, “It is entirely based on the court proceedings and arguments from both sides during the trial. There is no dramatisation. The makers even researched how I walk and talk.”The prosecutor stated that he also hopes the film sends a wider message. He said, “I believe that this movie can send a message that we should not give a communal angle to such terror attacks.”
Why the Kasab trial went beyond one accused
Ujjwal Nikam said he is often asked why the trial took so long. According to him, people must understand who was really on trial. He said, “A total of 10 terrorists were sent from across the border to target Mumbai and its innocent citizens.”For the prosecution, the case reached far beyond Kasab. He added, “In a way, it was a legal battle against Pakistan because through evidence, we established a state-backed larger conspiracy.”
Ujjwal Nikam recalls Kasab’s changing claims during the trial
The biggest hurdle, Ujjwal Nikam said, was Kasab’s habit of changing his story. He revealed, “He (Kasab) would claim that he was a minor or that he was given poison.” The terrorist also tried to distance himself from the group of 10 attackers by blaming Abu Ismail for everything.The prosecution’s task was to counter each of these claims with evidence. Nikam said, “Our job was to primarily discredit all his falsehoods and establish the truth. Data was retrieved with the help of an FBI laboratory.”Ujjwal Nikam also praised the police, saying they worked round the clock to build the case against Kasab and Pakistan.
Ujjwal Nikam explains the controversial ‘biryani’ remark
One of the most talked-about moments of the trial was Ujjwal Nikam’s ‘biryani’ comment. He recalled the reason behind it. He said, “Kasab never demanded biryani, nor was it served. The larger problem was that the focus had shifted to Kasab instead of the victims, so we had to change that atmosphere.”His aim, he said, was to bring the conversation back to the people who lost their lives. Nikam said, “It will make people understand the legal battle and what went into establishing that on 26/11, India was attacked as part of a conspiracy. The focus should be on terrorism, evidence and most importantly, the victims.”
Cast and release of ‘Prahaar’
Directed by Avinash Arun, ‘Prahaar’ stars Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, along with Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi, Lalit Prabhakar and Ritvik Sahore. The film releases in theatres on October 16.