Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (also known as Bose: The Forgotten Hero) is a 2005 film directed by Shyam Benegal and starring Sachin Khedekar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajit Kapur, Arif Zakaria, and Divya Dutta. The movie depicts the last five years of the life of the Indian independence leader "Netaji" Subhash Chandra Bose. It starts out at the point where Bose resigns from his position as the president of the Indian National Congress (I.N.C.) to the meeting with Italians by crossing Afghanistan's rugged terrains and entering into Europe, to romancing his German secretary and appointment with Adolf Hitler in Berlin, to his inspiring of the Indian P.O.W.s (Prisoners Of War) of the 'Punjab Regiment' (British Army) for fighting against the British forces in India, to the patriotic speeches. Some U-Boat (Deutsche: 'Untersee Boat') Submarine scenes and finally the battle in Burma with emperor Tojo's assistance during the Second World War (W.W.-2) and ends with a radio announcement of his death. The music for the movie is by A. R. Rahman. The music for the songs "Aazadi" and "Ekla Chalo" were particularly popular. There is also a song "Zikr" composed in the style of Islamic prayer chants of Sufi style.
Plot
Born in a prominent Bengali family, Subhas had dedicated much of his younger years by being actively involved in various freedom movements in India, for ridding India of the British Imperialist rule. For this purpose he joined hands with stalwarts such as Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but expressed his frustration, especially with Gandhi's slow and painstaking way of trying to win over the enemy with love ('Ahimsa'). It is for this reason, he decided to part ways from the Congress Party. The British became weary of him, placed him under arrest, but when he started a hunger strike unto death, they let him go, but kept him under surveillance. Subhas eluded the police, under the guise of a Pathan with an alias, 'Mohammad Ziauddin', crossed the Indian border in Afghanistan so that he could enter Russia and form an Indian independence Army to oust the British. His efforts failed, he ended up as an 'Italian diplomat', "Orlando Mashtar", with an office in Germany. He did manage to convince the Nazis, despite Hitler's views in "Mein Kampf" (German for "My Struggle") that he preferred India to remain colonized under the British. Nevertheless he was permitted to recruit Indian-born British Army P.O.W.s, and this is how the movement began. He secretly married his German secretary, Emily Sanken, and did earn the ire of the Germans, who wanted to keep their race pure "Aryan" or Caucasian. His efforts to take his army to India through Russia and Afghanistan were in vain as Adolf Hitler declared war on Russia ('Operation Barbarossa'). Leaving his German-based army, Subhas journeyed to Singapore via a submarine, from there he entered into an agreement with the Japanese. And it was with the help of the Japanese that he marched an army of approximately 8000 troops, both men and women, against the might of the British. It was here that he was informed that he had become the father of Anita. Then, fate again played a cruel hand, when the United States entered the war, atom-bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing Japan to surrender unconditionally. At this point, Subhas had two alternatives: to carry on fighting against the British and their new allies, Australia and America, or just disband his army.[1]
The music score that accompanies the film was composed by A. R. Rahman. The soundtrack features 19 pieces composed by Rahman, including 13 instrumentals and orchestral themes, in addition to 6 further songs, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Performers include the Western Choir Chennai and the Mumbai Film Choir.
Track listing:
"Aazadi" (4:55) – A.R. Rahman, Western Choir Chorus
November 3, 2004 (London Film Festival)
May 13, 2005
21 crores