New Delhi: Renowned filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt recently shared poignant insights into the tragic loss suffered by legendary ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh. Speaking in a candid conversation with Anupam Kher, Bhatt delved into the heart-wrenching incident of Jagjit Singh's son, Vivek Singh's demise in 1990, following a fatal car accident.
During their discussion, Mahesh Bhatt shed light on how Jagjit Singh's personal tragedy deeply resonated with the narrative of his acclaimed film ‘Saaransh’. He revealed that the grieving father had to pay a bribe to get access to his son's body.
Reflecting on Jagjit Singh's experience, Bhatt emphasised the profound impact of real-life events as sources of inspiration for his cinematic storytelling. He said, “When the son of Jagjit Singh passed away in a tragic accident, he told me that he had to pay a bribe to junior officers to get his son’s body and that’s when he understood the importance of Saaransh. That is how much a common man struggles, to get the dead body of their own. All these are living reference points for the film,” quoted by The Indian Express.
Jagjit Singh and his wife Chitra Singh lost their only son, Vivek, in a car accident in 1990. He was just twenty years old. The couple also had a daughter, but she passed away in 2009.
About ‘Saaransh'
Today (7th Feb) marked the completion of 40 years since the release of ‘Saaransh'. The leading actors of the film were Rohini Hattangadi and Anupam Kher. At the age of 28, Anupam Kher made his acting debut as the protagonist, portraying a guy in his 60s.
The story centred on a middle-aged Maharashtrian couple who are dealing with the loss of their only son. Some of the themes explored in the film include corruption, loneliness, old age worry, and loss.