Indian society stronger than state: Filmmaker Prakash Jha at crime lit fest

Film director Prakash Jha, who like many others faced government resistance in clearance of his films, feel that the Indian society is stronger than the state.

Speaking at the second edition of the first ever Crime Literature Festival in Dehradun, Jha said, “In our country, the society is stronger than the state. A small group of people easily shakes the state with protests.”

The festival began on Friday evening with the session — ‘Gangaajal, Crime Culture, and Its Consequences in India's Heartland’.

In a conversation with RJ Kavya, the filmmaker said, “Crime literature and cinema offer lenses through which society can better understand the dynamics of crime and justice.”

Jha highlighted the complex relationship between crime and society. He pointed out that people often pay for criminals, and instead of approaching the police, we turn to powerful figures, like “Bahubali,” who influence the system.

These “Bahubalis” lead the society and gain support from it. Society tends to celebrate their power and dominance, often glorifying crime, he added.

Acknowledging that crime is a part of society, Jha said, “If there were no crime, there would be no stories. But its form is always different.”

He further explained that even in a well-organised and good society, crime exists. However, when the society is structured properly, the level of crime tends to be lower.

“Crime is part of our culture, and we often don't recognise it because it has become a part of our everyday life. We live in a complex society, and that’s why we encounter different kinds of crimes,” he said.

Jha used the example of the Mahabharata to illustrate his point, saying that the epic contains all the elements of a great story, including crimes committed between brothers.

Jha also shared his experience of writing Gangaajal, a film he worked on for 8 years and rewrote it 13 times. “I am not a social worker; I am a part of it. Now, I am writing Janadesh,” he said.

Former Uttarakhand DGP and festival chairman Ashok Kumar credited the driving force behind the festival and emphasised its broader mission.

“This event is not merely a celebration of storytelling, it’s a movement to educate, inspire, and create a more aware society,” Kumar said.