Accident or Conspiracy Godhra movie has been released in theatres. The film is directed by M.K. Shivaksh, who has played an important role in the direction of the film as well as in writing and acting. He describes this film as the realization of a decades-old dream. Which he had seen while living in Bihar and Jharkhand. Conversation with Urmila Kori

Which truth of Godhra is your film showing?
All the films made so far are post-Godhra, i.e. on Gujarat riots, but before that, the Godhra incident happened in which 59 people were burnt alive. This film brings forth that incident. Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of this film will also come. In which the film will show both the Godhra incident and the tragedy that followed. This film tells that riots are always bad, but along with that it also brings forth its reason.

What was your research work for the film?
After the Gujarat riots, the Nanavati Commission was set up, which took 6 years. In which 4500 people were witnesses, more than 50 eyewitnesses. Everyone had confessed. Forensic report was also included. This film is based on that and it is so accurate that no court or people have been able to challenge it. Till now it has been considered as a fact. The Gujarat government has also sentenced people on the basis of this. Along with this, I have also done my own research of 5 years, in which I have met thousands of people. We have tried to bring their pain, their emotions and their sorrow on screen. Those who escaped from that conspiracy. They have developed a phobia of trains. They are now scared of even the sound of the train. Even their family members are now afraid of trains. There are many films and many articles on the Gujarat riots, but no one talks about the Godhra incident.

In recent years, some films have been accused of targeting a particular religion, to what extent have you been able to save such films from this?
My film is not like that. We have not shown anything one-sided. Along with this, I would also like to say that our film does not give any verdict in the end. The decision is left to the audience to decide what they decide after seeing all the research and facts.

When you make a film on sensitive issues, filmmaking is not easy. What have been your experiences?
There were a lot of problems. From money to threats from many people, but people supported us too. The shooting of the film was also not easy. Especially the sequence of burning the train. We had applied to the government for the train but there was no permission to film the burning sequence in the train. We were unable to find any such set in Mumbai as well. After this, we went to Ramoji Rao Film City in Hyderabad. We made a long and wide train there and shot. This scene was completely shot in 21 days. We shot some part in Vadodara. It was also shot in Godhra and Mumbai.

Apart from being the writer and director of the film, you are also an actor. How difficult was it to manage everything?
To be honest, I had to act because I was researching for this film for 5 years. I had auditioned a lot of people but they were not able to understand the emotions of this character properly. I also approached many big actors, who have an image of fighting for the truth. They too refused my film. One of them kept the script for three months but then suddenly refused the film when the shooting dates were near, after which I had to act in the film.

When did the journey from Bihar to Mumbai start?
I have my roots not only in Bihar but also in Jharkhand. My family lives in Patna in Bihar and also in Ranchi, so I consider myself from both places. I started as a dancer. Along with learning dancing, I also started teaching it. I had students in Ranchi as well as Patna. To fulfill my future dreams, I came to Mumbai and started teaching dance here too.

How did you get interested in dance?
My father plays many instruments including harmonium. He also sings Bhajans well, but he did not teach me. Whenever Ramleela used to take place in our house, my father used to direct it, but he kept us away from it too. He would only tell me to study, but his DNA was in me too, so I too got drawn towards this automatically.

Did you always want to become a director?
Yes, I did not know direction but I knew that I cannot suddenly go into film direction. I will have to make a way for it. That is why I started dancing. I left Bihar in 2009. I stayed in Delhi from 2009 to 2013. I used to teach dance there. After that I came to Mumbai. My struggle has been going on since 2006. Dancing fulfilled my needs due to which I was not much bothered by the problem of food and accommodation in Mumbai. If I did not know dance, I would hardly have been able to survive in this expensive city. There was a filmy tech academy in Char Bungalow, which taught acting. Its fee was about one lakh rupees. I talked to them and told them that I am a dancer, they said that you teach dance to our students in return we will waive your acting fee. That means I did acting with my dancing and then worked as an assistant in films. I also directed some music videos. Godhra is my first film to be released but I have made two more films before this. My last two films have been shot but have not been released yet.

What is the response of your family?
When you come from Bihar, your family always says that it would have been better if you had studied. My parents do not know much about this field. My father is a farmer and my mother is a housewife. My elder brother is a lawyer in Patna High Court, so he always says that it would have been better if I had studied.

A decade has passed in Mumbai, how much has the struggle reduced?
Right now I live on rent in Lokhandwala, Mumbai. I have achieved something with hard work in all these years but the special thing about Mumbai is that until you reach a big position, you have to keep struggling. Every other week you face some problem or the other. It is still going on but I don't want to go back. This is what I want to do. There is no business that I can do back home. I have to struggle there too, so it will be better if I struggle at least while chasing my dreams in Mumbai.