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‘Tejas’, now streaming on Zee5 Global worldwide, is gaining appreciation from audiences, and director Sarvesh Mewara shares thwe journey behind creating the film, and what he hopes audiences take away from it.
What are the moments that encapsulate the essence of the emotional journey portrayed in Tejas?
It’s just that whenever I write scripts, I narrate them to people, and the kind of reaction I receive is very, very special and personally significant for me. After dedicating 6 or 8 months to writing these scripts, when you finally narrate them to a team of 8 or 10 people and witness how they react to your screenplay, it becomes an important and emotional moment. So, when I narrated it to Ronnie Sir and the team, their extremely positive reaction to the script was significant. Then, when I narrated it to Kangana ma’am, I recall it being in Hyderabad while she was shooting for a movie she immediately asked, “When do you want to start the film?” I responded, “Whenever you give us the dates.” She had a very specific smile, which I will always remember; it was almost an instant ‘yes’ from her side. That was a pivotal and emotional moment for me—to have an actor instantly agree, or when producers, upon hearing the script, express their liking. These are crucial moments, especially during the pitching phase. Of course, there are numerous moments during the film’s production, but the starting point—narrating the script to the producers and the actors and receiving their positive responses—is a wonderful way to commence a project.
Mewara also expresses that he hopes viewers see the plight Indian Air Force pilots go through during their career.
What message or emotions do you hope the audience takes away after experiencing Tejas, considering its focus on patriotism, bravery, and the trials faced by Indian Air Force pilots?
Through our film, I want to highlight that our freedom comes at a cost—the sacrifices made by our soldiers. So, one should not take freedom for granted and should appreciate the freedom gained through the sacrifices of our soldiers. It’s important to value the real heroes of our country, our soldiers, and the freedom they safeguard. Simultaneously, when in doubt, think about the nation, as shown in our teaser trailer. This theme is central to our film: whenever uncertainty arises in making decisions or taking steps, ask yourself, “Will this benefit our nation?” If every citizen adopts this mindset, they can contribute to their country’s growth in various small ways, even without being a soldier or part of the defense forces. Thus, the takeaway from Tejas is to consider the nation when in doubt. This aligns with the dialogue from my favorite film, Rang De Basanti by Ronnie Sir, where it’s said, “Koi bhi desh perfect nahi hota hai, use perfect banana padta hai.” Tejas follows a similar theme.
