In Mani Ratnam’s latest movie, Kaatru Veliyidai, the hero Karthi, who plays an Indian Air Force pilot is seen escaping from the Rawalpindi prison by digging a tunnel.
In an attempt to address massive criticism over the portrayal of the escape, Mani Ratnam’s entertainment company has claimed that the sequence was based on real life events.
Since, the movie's release on April 7, it has drawn a lot of flak on social media over its 'unrealistic' portrayal of Karthi and two other characters' escape from a Pakistani jail. Karthi, a prisoner of war, is shown managing to easily outsmart and outrun Pakistani soldiers in the movie, which is set in the backdrop of the Kargil war.
Some reviewers, have even likened this prison break to 'an unfit cop chasing a pick-pocket in Chennai’s Mylapore'. Others have asked if Pakistani forces are really that easy to hoodwink.
Following this, Madras Talkies in a statement has said that the sequence is largely based on a true story, published in a book named '4 miles to freedom'. "When Flight Lieutenant Dilip Parulkar was shot down over Pakistan on 10 December 1971, he quickly turned that catastrophe into the greatest adventure of his life. On 13 August 1972 Parulkar, along with Malvinder Singh Grewal and Harish Sinhji escaped from a POW camp in Rawalpindi," says Madras Talkies.
The entertainment company established by Mani Ratnam has claimed that this explanation is directed at online reviewers who highlighted problems with this sequence. "So, this should put an end to people who question the authenticity of this sequence and the confusion surrounding this sequence," says the statement.
Reviewers however claim, that the authenticity of the prison break was never the bone of contention because the sequence formed a very small part of the film. The problem, they claim, is the lack of clarity and time devoted to explain how the prisoners of war escaped unscathed.
Kaatru Veliyidai largely focuses on the relationship between an air force officer and a doctor, who meet in Srinagar. The ups and downs they face as a couple, forms the crux of the film.
Full statement:
"KaatruVeliyidai" is running in theaters successfully. There is a sequence in the film where, the Indian prisoners Karthi and his two friends escape from Pakistan Prison and their Army Men. Some online reviewers are quizzing about the authenticity of this sequence. So, here is the true story behind this sequence.
When Flight Lieutenant Dilip Parulkar was shot down over Pakistan on 10 December 1971, he quickly turned that catastrophe into the greatest adventure of his life. On 13 August 1972 Parulkar, along with Malvinder Singh Grewal and Harish Sinhji escaped from a POW camp in Rawalpindi. Four Miles To Freedom is their story.
"Four miles to freedom" is a book written by Ms.Faith Johnston. It depicts their real story. KaatruVeliyidai borrows incidents from this book.Most of what Karthi and his friends do to escape are from real incidents.
So, this should put an end to people who question the authenticity of this sequence and the confusion surrounding this sequence.”