Indian Adaptation Of ‘Fauda’ Is About Human Emotions, Not Religions

The Indian adaptation of the popular Israeli series Fauda is out on SonyLIV. Titled Tanaav, the new show has been directed by emminent Indian filmmaker Sudhir Mishra. The show is based in Kashmir – a land of historical dispute between India and Pakistan – but the filmmaker claims he has done his best to steer clear of any religious fight in the show.

Asked about the similarities and differences between Fauda and Tanaav, Mishra says, “Tanaav is based on Fauda but we reimagined it in Kashmir so it is its own story. Fauda is about two countries, this is about the same country. Fauda is about two religions, we have tried to not make it about religions. Tanaav is India versus terrorism. (We have characters who are) army and intelligence officers who are Muslims, as it is in reality.”

He adds that to keep it all authentic to the local flavor of Kashmir, most of the cast and crew in the web series are from Kashmir. The word ‘Fauda’ means chaos while ‘Tanaav’ means tension. Reminded of the stark difference in the names of the original and adapted web shows, the filmmaker says, “There is tension but it is India one country. One is not denying the tension. There are different points of view but chaos is another world, it implies something else. It is tense but there are also implies there can be moments when it is not tense. You will get to see moments of joy with family, food and music, all sorts of things make the show. I think the title rightly points to the difference between the two.”

Director Sachin Krishn also adds, “We were very clear that Tanaav could not be either overtly jingoistic, or subtly anti-national in its approach. Yes, a case of trying to walk on eggs without having to break the shells. but that was a challenge we took up and decided to enjoy. With the story that eventually evolved, the audience will see the conflict affecting both sides – the militant and the forces – the way it really does. If a young 22 year Kashmiri boy and his gang of friends can identify with what is unfolding on screen as much as an army major watching the show, we will have achieved this delicate balance.”

He adds that more than the conflict in the Kashmir valley, Tanaav is about human emotions. “Though set in the valley, Tanaav is actually about the conflict affecting the personal lives of those involved, be it the militants, or the forces. It is, in effect, a love story, a hate story, a story of unrequited love and jilted love. It is about relationships that have turned complex due to turmoil that they have faced. Tanaav is basically about the turmoil affecting the personal lives of the central characters.”

Actor Manav Vij plays the lead role of a cop working with a special unit of the forces in Kashmir. Talking about his role and the show, he says that the film has avoided uneccessary controversies, but adds that artists (especially like him who hail from the land of Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh) can never be bogged down by fears of backlash.

Streaming on SONYLIV with last few parts being episodically released every week, Tanav traces the lives of a few officers in a special unit of the forces who lead in India’s war against terrorism.