Marathi actor Lalit Prabhakar plays 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab in ‘Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam’, directed by Avinash Arun. The film, which releases in theatres on October 16, features him in tense courtroom scenes with Rajkummar Rao, who plays Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.
A big shift from his earlier roles
Lalit Prabhakar is well known for his varied work in Marathi television and cinema. His credits include ‘Anandi Gopal’, ‘Hampi’, ‘TTMM’ and the horror-comedy ‘Zombivli’, in which he played a double role. Playing the only terrorist captured alive in the 2008 Mumbai attacks is a sharp turn towards darker material. It is also the most intense role he has played on screen so far.
What the trailer shows
The trailer highlights some key moments of the legal fight. One of them is the scene where Ajmal Kasab says he is 17 years old so that he can seek protection under juvenile laws. Sikandar Kher plays Kasab’s defence lawyer, who argues that the prosecution’s case has flaws and pushes for the trial to be moved to a juvenile court to avoid the death penalty.
Lalit Prabhakar on preparing for the role
Speaking to us (ETimes), the actor said the part was not easy. “It was a challenge, a very difficult role, for various reasons. Firstly, I had to understand the psychology of Kasab in order to become him on screen and perform accordingly.”He also spoke about the finer details of the character. “I had to catch the nuances of his language, which is different from ours, and adapt his body language. But more than that, I wanted to do something that even I had never imagined myself doing. I have always wanted to see myself in roles that were never envisioned for me. I like expanding my boundaries,” the 39-year-old added.
The real trial behind the film
Ajmal Kasab’s trial is among the most closely watched cases in India’s legal history. He was caught alive on the night of November 26, 2008, at Girgaon Chowpatty. Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble made that possible by disarming him despite being fatally wounded. After a legal battle of nearly four years, watched closely around the world, Nikam and his team broke down Kasab’s defence and proved his direct role in the attacks. Kasab was convicted and executed at Pune’s Yerwada Central Jail in November 2012.
Cast and release
‘Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam’ also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Wamiqa Gabbi and Ashish Vidyarthi in important roles. The courtroom drama will release in cinemas across the country on October 16.
