Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ketan Mehta have told us about a big historical film – Jai Somnath – which is to come out around the world in 2027. The movie goes back to a very dramatic time in Indian history, and will be a large, impressive movie. The two directors, each with their own way of doing things, are working on a story that means a lot to Indian culture.
How the film was announced and how it’s being made
A short video on social media on Maha Shivratri showed the film was happening. The video said, ‘A temple might be destroyed, but not the belief,’ and said the film was Jai Somnath, directed by Ketan Mehta and shown by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It also said it would come out worldwide in 2027, so people began to look forward to it.
People making the film have said Ketan Mehta will write and direct. Bhansali is the presenter and will help with the making of the film, using his knowledge of making big films about the past. No actors have been chosen, and we don’t know when the film will be made, yet.
What the Somnath Temple and the events of 1025-1026 are about
Jai Somnath will look again at what happened around 1025-1026 AD, when Mahmud of Ghazni is thought to have attacked and stolen from the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The film is to look at the attack and what happened when the temple was rebuilt – a thousand years after the event. This long time allows the film-makers to show both excitement and look into what happened in the past.
The story of Somnath has religious, cultural, and political meanings, so it’s a good story for a film. The story links what people remember locally, and what the country thinks of as its story, and needs to be handled carefully, and not just be exciting. The film-makers have to be careful to be correct about history, while also making a good story.
Bhansali and Mehta: what they are good at
Bhansali is known for very fancy images, detailed work on how things look, and emotional films about the past, which put a lot into music and how grand things are. His films often make the places where they are set into real-looking film worlds. Because of this, Jai Somnath will likely have richly detailed sets and very strong feelings.
Mehta has made films which think about society, and are based in the past, and has a reputation for telling stories which are real, and pay attention to cultural detail. As writer-director, he can decide what the story is about, and make characters who are based in history. The two of them working together promises a mix of beautiful images and being correct about the context.
What people can expect from Jai Somnath
The film is to be a historical epic, which has both scale and close, personal stories. We can expect detailed work on how things look, clothes which are correct for the time, and scenes which make the temple and its surroundings again. Music and sound will likely be important, given Bhansali’s past work.
Those making the film will have to be careful with difficult subjects, and not make simple versions of complicated events. The film could be a good example of how popular films deal with history which people disagree about, depending on what story it tells and what research it does. People should look out for who is in the film, and how it is being made, in the months to come.
How important the film is to culture and when it is coming out
Coming out in 2027 is the 1000-year anniversary of the attack on, and later rebuilding of, Somnath, which gives the film a meaning. This time will likely make the public more interested, and also make critics look at it closely. The film-makers will be aware of the different responses from people in culture and in universities.
Jai Somnath is more than just a film about the past; it is an attempt to look again at a time which made what people remember in the area, and what the country thinks, what it is. If handled well, the film could make people talk about what our heritage is, what people believe, and how stories are told in films. For now, Bhansali and Mehta working together is a big reason to be interested, promising a film which is to be both large and thoughtful.
