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India Today
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Historical films: A burst of patriotic fervour
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated May 5, 2025)For the past few years, all Nikkhil Advani has been doing is directing dhoti-kurta-clad men rallying for freedom. He doesn't mind being labelled the chief chronicler of India's colonial history. It started with SonyLIV's Freedom at Midnight (2024-) whose second season will drop later this year, and continues with Amazon Prime series Revolutionaries, which he is currently shooting. 'History fascinates me, especially this period. We cannot erase history. We should allow people to understand it and not take it for granted,' Advani says, as he gets ready for a night shift of Revolutionaries unfolding on a sprawling set in Madh Island in Mumbai. If Freedom at Midnight captured how India's greatest leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel banded together for India's independence, Revolutionaries, Advani says, centres on a group of young boys with a more straightforward mission—'We will not ask them [the British] to leave, we will just throw them out.'advertisement Kesari Chapter 2 (2025) advertisementAdvani is not alone in mining India's colonial past for inspiration. Others, too, are focusing their lens on pivotal events and figures of the era. Recently, Ram Madhvani directed The Waking of a Nation (also on SonyLIV), a courtroom drama that documents the events leading up to the Jallianwala Bagh killings and follows one man's pursuit of truth and justice in its aftermath. Akshay Kumar's Kesari Chapter 2 revisits the same incident, but tells it through the eyes of lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, 'the forgotten hero' who 'dared to take on the British Empire'. Akshay plays Nair in the film, which has been in the news as BJP leaders target the Congress for ignoring Nair's contribution despite him being a former president of the INC (Indian National Congress). Later this year arrives Hansal Mehta's epic Gandhi, featuring Pratik Gandhi in the titular role. Rumour has it that a leading streaming platform has acquired the rights to the show. This spate of stories suggests that filmmakers are keen to take ownership of a troubling period of Indian history and revisit it with a fresh perspective. Through their work, they are acquainting viewers with events that deserve in-depth examination and the unsung heroes who merit recognition. For Saugata Mukherjee, head of content at SonyLIV, the platform behind Rocket Boys, Freedom at Midnight and The Waking of a Nation, the ambitious dramas are completely aligned with their goal to 'tell the big stories of India' and fill the gaping void in the Indian narrative landscape. 'I don't think we have mined and celebrated our history enough,' he says. 'We have a treasure trove of forgotten stories. It's important for makers, writers, studios and platforms to find them. But they need to tell them in a fashion that is contemporary, entertaining, and doesn't become so niche that people stop watching history.' Historicals are by no means easy to make or view. Ask Advani, who is in the midst of directing hundreds of extras in Revolutionaries and overseeing edits of Freedom at Midnight, season two. Research is pivotal to the making of these shows, and the budgets are big, since locales, sets and costumes have to be authentic. The challenge is to imagine how these national icons would speak and behave; there is only so much creative licence you can take without the risk of offending public sentiment. Still, Advani found a way to make Revolutionaries different from Freedom at Midnight. 'I'm treating it like Gangs of Wasseypur meets Inglourious Basterds,' he says, as he focuses on youth like Kartar Singh Sarabha and Ras Behari Bose, who revolted against the British Raj. 'The idea is to have fun with history.' And also to expose the younger generation to figures beyond the ones in school textbooks or popular cinema. Think Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey, Udham Singh or Jhansi ki others, delving into the past is more than just reviving forgotten heroes or recounting colonial atrocities. The Waking of a Nation, says Madhvani, was also a way to examine how racism and prejudice were fundamental to the British colonising project. 'The idea that you cannot actually rule yourself... how did we believe that and let it happen?' asks Madhvani. 'We got brainwashed.' Given an opportunity, Madhvani would continue The Waking of a Nation series by looking at another defining moment in India's freedom struggle—the Revolt of 1857. He is particularly interested in the Peel Commission that was appointed to investigate the Shedding light on lesser-known heroes was also the impulse behind Kesari Chapter 2, Karan Singh Tyagi's directorial debut. A student of law and politics, Tyagi was deeply moved by The Case that Shook the Empire, a book by C. Sankaran Nair's great-grandson Raghu Palat and his wife Pushpa. 'Sankaran Nair was knighted by the British Empire and resigned from the council [after the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy],' Tyagi said in a statement to the press. 'For him to then take on the British in the most dramatic of ways is a story of valour.' Among the triggers, Tyagi said, was watching a documentary by General Dyer's great-granddaughter, in which she defends his actions and calls the assembled gathering 'looters'. 'That interview really angered me,' Tyagi said. 'Kesari 2 is important because you'll be shocked to know that the empire went into overdrive after the massacre, going to extreme lengths in order to laud General Dyer as a hero.'advertisement The waking of a nation (2025) Feature films set in the colonial era have been made before. But they have either been biopics or entertaining spectacles like Lagaan or RRR. When it comes to Gandhi, it's still the Richard Attenborough production, a predominantly English-language feature, which remains the reference point. Will Hansal Mehta and Applause Entertainment's Gandhi change that and finally give Indian audiences a local story celebrating their greatest leader?'The world needs Gandhi now more than any other time,' Pratik Gandhi had told India Today last year while shooting the show. 'We have taken him for granted and there's a generation that's understanding him very weirdly and differently. It is very easy to criticise him. The beautiful thing is Gandhi let people judge him. He had the guts to reveal his flaws and mistakes.' The film aims to tell the story of the man that was Gandhi, more than the And even as Advani embarks on the 'crazy adventure' that is Revolutionaries, which follows the youngsters who were part of the Ghadar movement, he clarifies that it wasn't a calculated move to become a genre specialist. He admits that these are time-consuming exercises and carry tremendous responsibility, but he wouldn't have it any other way. 'I like to tell stories of nation-building and non-jingoistic patriotism,' he says. It is a worthy to India Today Magazine
India Today
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
A burst of patriotic fervour
For the past few years, all Nikhil Advani has been doing is directing dhoti-kurta-clad men rallying for freedom. He doesn't mind being labelled the chief chronicler of India's colonial history. It started with SonyLIV's Freedom at Midnight (2024-) whose second season will drop later this year, and continues with Amazon Prime series Revolutionaries, which he is currently shooting. 'History fascinates me, especially this period. We cannot erase history. We should allow people to understand it and not take it for granted,' Advani says, as he gets ready for a night shift of Revolutionaries unfolding on a sprawling set in Madh Island in Mumbai. If Freedom at Midnight captured how India's greatest leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel banded together for India's independence, Revolutionaries, Advani says, centres on a group of young boys with a more straightforward mission—'We will not ask them [the British] to leave, we will just throw them out.' Kesari Chapter 2 (2025)
Fox Sports
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
'There's a place for him in the NBA': What makes Tyson Degenhart so special
LAS VEGAS — Late on Monday afternoon, following a breezy performance from Tyson Degenhart in which the veteran forward scored 19 points with relative ease, Boise State head coach Leon Rice described the double-edged sword that is coaching someone known for such an unusual blend of efficiency and selflessness. Most players, especially those of the star variety, will shoot and shoot and shoot some more on days when almost everything they try is working, just as it played out for Degenhart during his team's 89-59 dismantling of George Washington. He made eight of 12 field goal attempts overall against the Revolutionaries, including all three attempts from beyond the arc, and stuffed the stat sheet with four rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. It was the kind of performance that certainly would have earned Degenhart, who is already the Broncos' all-time leading scorer, more leeway had he chosen to hoist a few more — or even many more — shots. In fact, Rice has spent the better part of Degenhart's record-setting four years at Boise State nudging and probing his reluctant standout to think longer and harder about personal production. The lesson doesn't always stick. "I'd love him to take a few more tough ones," Rice said after beating George Washington. "But that's why he's loved, that's why he's appreciated. On a night like this, most guys can go out and get 30, but that's not what Tyson's about. He's just about doing what's best for the team at all times. I've been encouraging [him to shoot more] his whole career, but you've got to kind of let guys be who they are." And yet, two days later, there was Degenhart in a quarterfinal matchup against Butler, scoring his team's first points of the game on an aggressive drive that ended with a lefty half hook. And then, just 26 seconds later, there was Degenhart swishing a 3-pointer from the right wing without thinking twice, his first of two triples in the opening three minutes alone. The eight-point flurry was exactly what Rice had always wanted to see. It wasn't long, however, before Degenhart gently reverted to his team-first roots and continued embodying the altruistic disposition that has served both him and the Broncos so well over the last few years, a stretch that included three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths from 2022-24 and might end by winning the inaugural College Basketball Crown in a few short days. Sure, Degenhart finished with 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting to propel Boise State to the semifinals and surpassed 2,000 career points along the way, a mark his coach marveled at during the postgame news conference. But it was the completeness of Degenhart's floor game amid the Broncos' 100-93 victory that truly encapsulated who he is as a player: Degenhart chipped in a team-high seven rebounds and a team-high five assists while only turning the ball over once, all of which produced an individual offensive rating of 158, his fourth-best outing of the season. "That kid is a heck of a player," Butler head coach Thad Matta said. "He gets you in so many different ways. He doesn't make mistakes. He's patient. Reads the defense as well as any guy I've coached against. And they do a good job moving him around. They exploit the mismatches. Big-time player." The lofty praise from Matta came on the heels of even more vociferous adoration from George Washington head coach Chris Caputo, who marveled at Degenhart's skill when studying the Broncos on film and then saw firsthand how impactful he could be when the tournament began earlier this week: "He can hit you with driving, shooting, post-ups, he's a good passer, obviously a good rebounder," Caputo said. "I just think it's obvious when you look at the success that they've had in his time there, that he is one of the all-time great players in the history of their program. I would think that there's a place for him somewhere in the NBA." The breadth of talent he's flashed across two games here at MGM Grand Garden Arena would seem to reinforce Caputo's statement on Degenhart, a former zero-star recruit from Spokane, Washington. Against George Washington, whom the Broncos pressured into 22 turnovers, Degenhart showcased his defensive prowess with three steals and one block that catalyzed an avalanche of fast-break opportunities, some of which ended with transition baskets for the player himself. In doing so, Degenhart reminded the NBA scouts in attendance that what he might lack in raw athleticism can be offset by his heightened spatial awareness and elite on-court positioning. A contrast in styles between that matchup and Wednesday's quarterfinal against Butler, which warped into an offensive frenzy, afforded Degenhart an opportunity to unearth different facets of his game. There was an offensive rebound that Degenhart kicked out to point guard Alvaro Cardenas (19 points) for a 3-pointer on the wing and a heady bounce pass he dropped for teammate Javan Buchanan (game-high 27 points) in the lane. There was a cross-screen layup Degenhart made on a play devised by Rice during a timeout and an isolation post-up opportunity he converted on the opening possession of the second half, which gave Boise State its largest lead of the game to that point. More impressive than any of those plays, however, was how easily Degenhart shredded the Bulldogs' defense when Matta switched to zone midway through the second half. Time and again, Degenhart knifed into the free-throw line area to feed his cutting teammates. And when he removed himself from that location, Degenhart lurked along the baseline for slicing layups. "I thought we handled that zone really, really well," Rice said. "Javan in the high post, Tyson in the low [post] — or vice versa — that's a great combination. I thought that was a crucial stretch of the game when they changed defenses and we were able to handle it. Credit to our guys." Boise State's offensive execution was so flawless (60.3% shooting, 11-for-24 from 3-point range) that even a 55-point second half from the Bulldogs posed little threat in a game Rice's team led for more than 37 minutes. The Broncos' 100 total points tied their highest scoring output of the season, though the only other time Boise State reached triple digits was Nov. 12 against Corban College, an NAIA school from Oregon. Degenhart only played 21 minutes in that game and made every shot he attempted. Five months later, Degenhart and his teammates played so well on Wednesday evening that their season will continue for at least a few days longer. The Broncos will face Nebraska in the semifinals at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, and there's no place Degenhart would rather be. "I'm just going to cherish every moment," Degenhart said. "This is a time in my life when I'm going to look back in 10 or 15 years and just really, you know, reminisce about all the good times. I'm just gonna try to take it in day by day." Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_Cohen13. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily . FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Basketball Boise State Broncos Tyson Degenhart recommended Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
George Washington visits Boise State after Degenhart's 22-point game
Associated Press George Washington Revolutionaries (21-12, 10-10 A-10) vs. Boise State Broncos (24-10, 16-7 MWC) Las Vegas; Monday, 5:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Boise State hosts George Washington after Tyson Degenhart scored 22 points in Boise State's 69-56 loss to the Colorado State Rams. Boise State is 5-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer. George Washington is seventh in the A-10 scoring 73.6 points per game and is shooting 44.7%. Boise State scores 74.9 points, 7.1 more per game than the 67.8 George Washington allows. George Washington averages 7.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.6 more makes per game than Boise State gives up. TOP PERFORMERS: Degenhart is scoring 17.9 points per game and averaging 6.1 rebounds for the Broncos. Andrew Meadow is averaging 14.4 points and 4.2 rebounds over the last 10 games. Rafael Castro is averaging 14.1 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Revolutionaries. Trey Autry is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Broncos: 7-3, averaging 69.4 points, 32.3 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 5.9 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.7 points per game. Revolutionaries: 6-4, averaging 71.2 points, 28.2 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.6 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. recommended
Associated Press
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Haynes' 24 lead George Mason over George Washington 80-65 in Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament
The AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Haynes had 24 points in George Mason's 80-65 win over George Washington on Friday in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Haynes also had five rebounds for the Patriots (25-7). Jared Billups scored 18 points and added seven rebounds and five steals. Darius Maddox went 4 of 10 from the field (1 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points. Rafael Castro finished with 17 points for the Revolutionaries (21-12). Christian Jones added 11 points and three steals for George Washington. Gerald Drumgoole Jr. also put up 10 points. Billups scored George Mason's last six points. ___
