As a filmmaker, he shoots in various parts of the world. But he shares that this ad film for automobile giant Mahindra, is going to stay as a memory for a very long time. Silchar’s Saptaraj Chakraborty, a well-established director and producer is most probably the last filmmaker to film in Leh as a part of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We were shooting in multiple locations and Leh was one them. A few of us went there a couple of days ahead to check spots and all. When we reached there it was all fine but we could see tension building around us gradually but we thought it is just another day in Jammu and Kashmir,” says Saptaraj Chakraborty.
Saptaraj says more than conflict or tension they were worried about the low oxygen level. “You cannot be hyperactive or behave like Phantom when you are at such height. You need to take frequent breaks to keep breathing properly. We were figuring out the shooting schedule so that no one get exhausted,” he informs.
Couple of days later, the entire crew reached Ladakh and the shoot began as planned. Meanwhile Saptaraj and his team could read rumours spreading like wild fire on the Internet. “On the second day of our shoot we got an official message asking us to pack up as soon as possible. That was a real moment of worry. We got to know that we have to leave J&K as soon as possible,” he informs.
The whole team finished the shoot as planned and gathered at their hotel which was just a five-minute-drive from Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh. “The mood was jolly as we just packed up. But then we all were discussing what could be happening in J&K. Some mentioned Surgical Strike, few even said there could be a terrorist attack bordering the Amarnath dham as pilgrims were escorted out from there. The fun part was the media was speculating exactly like we were. I remember we started checking hashtag on Twitter and would refresh our feed every now and then,” he says.
Many from the crew were supposed to travel back by road. They had to change their plans and book air tickets. “Good that the Government of India asked airlines to control the price despite such high demand. All of us had our tickets done and we were to leave the next day,” Saptaraj asserts.
The manager of the hotel helped the crew. “He was a very good man, he came to us and asked us to leave early as the airport is crowded. Despite our hotel being just five minutes away we left for the Airport three hours before our flight. When we reached there, it was jam packed, a sea of people floating in ocean of uncertainty. We boarded our flight and reached Mumbai. The next day we saw Amit Shah making the announcement in the Parliament,” he says.
During the interaction, Saptaraj recalled a fond moment memory from his last trip. He went to a school in Ladakh and saw a board which stated Jammu and Kashmir. He asked the locals if the school comes under the J&K government and they replied saying yes it does. “I asked them about the subjects they study and they said there is one on monk studies. When I got to know about the news the first thing that came to my mind was that board and how everything is going to change. However this trip was a historical experience for sure,” he concludes.
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