People from various walks of life have turned filmmakers, and the latest to make a paradigm shift in profession and turn screenwriter is former Director General of Police Santosh Mehra. After having served the public for over 35 years in various capacities as a cop, Mehra has now penned a pan-India cop film. Though not many details are available, we learn that he has drawn from his own experiences and those of colleagues to frame the story.
When contacted, Mehra admits that he has indeed written a story for a film. He says he has always been passionate about writing, and took the opportunity to write about some unsung heroes in policing. He adds that the film is not a typical masala story where the hero keeps bashing the goons, like in Singam and Dabangg.
“This is an emotional story of cops who are sincere and honest in their line of duty. They may not be recognised for their services and heroics but what keeps them constantly motivated at work is their integrity and honour for the uniform,” reveals Mehra, Sharing that he had met several policemen at the grassroots level who render selfless service without expecting anything in return (rewards, promotions and choice postings), he says their passion for their work is very inspiring.
Mehra, a 1987 batch IPS officer who played a crucial part as Liaison Officer in a UN peacekeeping mission, and has had exposure in the USA and Australia, is the only IPS officer from the Telugu States to serve as team leader for the Hot Springs delegation and as liaison officer for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. His assignments in the US and Australia gave him a rare global perspective in policing and earned him encomiums in his career.
“Many filmmakers are friends of mine, and we interact often. Since I have vast experience, one of the filmmakers approached me to write a cop story. I thought an emotional story with heroics that have not been publicised would resonate with the audience more than the routine masala story. Despite heavy odds, the resilience , discipline and fortitude in performance of these cops have to be celebrated,” the former top cop says.
The film will be high on entertainment, but at the same time, it will showcase police officers as examples of courage and righteousness. “I believe that cops at various levels exhibit endurance and discipline towards their duty. No matter how mildewed and corrupt the system gets, these honest cops will always help the public to keep their faith in the department intact,” he adds.
