Harleen Kaur, Punjab: She has become the pillar of the house in the absence of her husband. With his return will they have a future together?
Nazneen Khan, Delhi: She moved on to find companionship and support in the absence of her husband. Will she be able to choose between her past and her future?
Naib Subedar Sartaj Singh and Squadron Leader Imaan Khan, Indian Army: War heroes who escaped from captivity in Pakistan. Has the test for 17 years of torture converted them into traitors?
4 Lives interrupted. 2 Families Shattered. PAN Indian adaptation of the acclaimed Israeli series, ‘Hatufim’ by Gideon Raff, P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke has got the entire industry talking about its emotionally intense, gripping, fresh, edgy story which is set to launch this festive season. A refreshing cast ensemble comprising Sandhya Mridul, Purab Kohli, Amrita Puri, Satyadeep Misra and Manish Chaudhari have teamed up with Nikkhil Advani for this special project.
Portraying the characters of war heroes and their families, they compel you to think, “Which one of them is the real prisoner of war?’
On her choice to play Harleen Kaur on television, Amrita Puri says – “Harleen Kaur from Punjab, has grown from being a young 17 year old girl with the dreams of a newly-wed, to a woman who hasn't lost hope, to being able to see her husband Sartaj Singh who left for his duty at Kargil War on their wedding night. 17 years since war, she has turned into a strong, resilient and independent woman. Harleen is now the pillar of Sartaj’s family, holding the wit of a strong willed girl to give them courage and support. Nonetheless, she continues to brave the wait for her husband who is missing in action since 17 years.”
Known for her offbeat roles, Sandhya Mridul says Nazneen Khan is still the most challenging character she has played. “The heroism is not just demonstrated on the battlefield. Playing this character, brings us closer to the extraordinary heroism of the wives of war heroes, every day of the war and even after. Nazneen’s life is stuck between the past and the present leaving her like a pendulum unable to make a choice in the wait of her husband’s return. This conflict of emotion is a battle that she braves everyday as her husband still remains missing in action.”
17 years of torture while being imprisoned in Pakistan puts the soldiers through a grueling test of loyalty towards one’s nation and raises a question, investigated by Major (Retd) Vikram Singh, played by Manish Chaudhari, “Have these war heroes been converted into terrorists? Have they withstood the test of 17 years of torture in captivity by Pakistan? 17 years is a long time and can change anybody, even an Indian soldier.”
Actors Purab Kohli and Satyadeep Misra have left no stone unturned to get into the skin of their characters of war heroes who are taken prisoners in Pakistan during the Kargil War. Playing the role of Naib Subedar Sartaj Singh, Purab has been aggressively following a strict physical regime, “It was difficult to understand the trauma of a prisoner of war. My character Sartaj Singh belongs to the Sikh regiment of the Indian army who was called on duty by the Defense forces when the Kargil War broke in 1999 on the night of his marriage. The war stories of our missing in action soldiers is emotionally heart wrenching as damage is beyond measure and scars remain for a lifetime.” Satyadeep Misra adds, “There is nothing more universal than the sentiment of patriotism. To portray this from the lens of a captive Indian soldier in Pakistan for 17 years, is a role one will remember for a lifetime. While imprisoned, Imaan lived each day with just one hope - to re-unite with his family and wife. His patriotism was tested every day in Pakistan and now his loyalties are being questioned after he returns to his own nation.”
With the return of the soldiers to their interrupted family lives after 17 years, keeps the viewer at a razor’s edge as the story unfolds in the most unexpected manner. It is what makes the story a unique combination of family drama and thriller.
Dabur Red Paste presents P.O.W. Bandi Yuddh Ke powered by Tata Tiago & Patanjali Keshkanti coming this festive season on STAR Plus.
Based on a Keshet Broadcasting Series "Prisoners of War" by Gideon Raff" and "©Licensed by Keshet International"
Footnotes:
From the Director’s Lens: Nikkhil Advani who has always been close to Patriotism as a subject, craves for perfection in every project he undertakes. The director has been having sleepless nights over the past few months working on this project. Nikkhil said, “Patriotism has been a subject very close to my heart and each of my project, be it D-Day, Airlift now ‘P.O.W.’. With this show, I would like to bring the untold journey of the prisoners of war who are not captive in chains but in hope in their every moment. The story of the war which begins with the return of the heroes back home. P.O.W. is not just a story of Harleen, Nazneen, Sartaj or Imaan – it is a story of family, emotions, sacrifices and patriotism. It is the story of India which provokes the question ‘Who are the real Prisoners of War?”
From STAR Plus: Gaurav Banerjee – President & Head of Content Studio, STAR India: We chose to bring to India the original Israeli version created by Gideon Raff - Hatufim, which focuses on the emotional upheaval that the two soldiers and families face on their being locked away for 17 years and on their return home. Gaurav Banerjee said, “Star Plus endeavors to be the platform where viewers get the best stories, concepts and content. A drama with the backdrop of war and the repercussions on the families has not happened in Indian television. It is a story with a rich terrain for emotions and conflict, which drew us to make a show like P.O.W. Our goal is to bring original stories and also some great stories from the world to the larger Indian audience.”
