For the character from
The Mahabharata, see
Ekalavya.
Eklavya: The Royal Guard is a Bollywood film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra which was released in India, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom on 16 February 2007.[1]
It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Balan, Raima Sen, Jackie Shroff, Jimmy Shergill and Boman Irani. The film marks Vidhu Vinod Chopra's return to directing after seven years. This movie was chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars to be considered for nomination in the Best Foreign Film category for the year 2007.[2]
Production
First teaser poster featuring Amitabh Bachchan
Eklavya: The Royal Guard was originally titled Yagna.[3] Production began in early 2005. The principal shooting of the film was completed in November 2005.[4] The primary location for shooting was in Rajasthan, at Devigarh and in Jaipur. According to the official website, shooting took place inside the living quarters of the Jaipur Royal Family. Prince Raghavendra Rathore and Subarna Rai Chaudhari designed the costumes for the film.[5] Eklavya's cottage was built from scratch.
The action sequences were to take place in Egypt but the sequences took place near Bikaner. 600 camels were involved in the shoot,[6]
Shantanu Moitra who was the music director of Parineeta (2005) composed the music for the film.[7] The global distributor for the film is Eros International.[8]
Synopsis
Contemporary India. A majestic fort. A royal dynasty that no longer rules. A king without a kingdom. Yet Eklavya (Amitabh Bachchan), their royal guard, lives in a time warp. He lives only to protect the fort, the dynasty, and the king. For nine generations Eklavya's family has protected Devigarh, a centuries old citadel in Rajasthan. His marksmanship is stuff of legends. His unflinching loyalty inspires ballads. Eklavya has spent his entire life serving the royals and closely guarding their secrets but now he's getting old and increasingly blind. Unable to cope with the suffocating customs of his land, the heir, Prince Harshwardhan (Saif Ali Khan), has stayed away in London. But the sudden demise of the queen, Rani Suhasinidevi (Sharmila Tagore), forces the Prince back to the kingdom he had left behind. The queen leaves a letter for her son in which she tells him that his biological father is actually Eklavya.
The Prince's return brings a rush of joy into the moribund fort. His mentally challenged twin sister, Princess Nandini (Raima Sen) and his childhood love Rajjo (Vidya Balan) are delighted to see him. But the joy of reunion is short-lived.
There is unrest in the kingdom: Farmers are being stripped of their lands. The king, Rana Jaywardhan (Boman Irani), influenced by his brother, Rana Jyotiwardhan (Jackie Shroff), supports the atrocities being forced upon the helpless peasants. The king receives a death threat over the phone. An irreverent police officer, Pannalal Chohar (Sanjay Dutt), is called in to investigate. But he might be too late. The fragile peace of the land is suddenly shattered by a barrage of bullets. Jaywardhan instructs his brother Jyotiwardhan to kill Eklavya in a fit of rage but his brother betrays him. And amidst the mayhem, the safely guarded secrets of the fort are unveiled.
Eklavya suspects Jyotiwardhan and his son, Udaywardhan Jimmy Shergill, are responsible for Jaywardhan's death. He kills Udaywardhan and leads Jyotiwardhan to Udaywardhan's body, intending to kill him and fulfill his oath, whereupon Udaywardhan reveals to Eklavya that it was the prince who ordered the death of the king. Shouting in denial, Eklavya kills Udaywardhan, knowing he must face the young Prince Harshwardhan, his own son, in order to finally fulfill his dharma.
Cast
Music
The soundtrack to Eklavya: The Royal Guard was released in 15 February 2007.[9]
References
