by Subhash K Jha

It could possibly be the riskiest shooting ever undertaken. "But what's life, specially screen life, without risks?" reasons director Mani Shankar. "My films 16 December, Rudraksha and Tango Charlie, have hardly been what you'd call routine entertainers."

But even by his audacious standards, what Mani did in major Muslim-populated city this Moharram was an act of daredevilry.

He got his leading man Sammir Dattani to be participate among a Moharram procession in a crowded and passionate congregation of devout Muslims.

Says Mani, "I don't know whether you are aware. But Moharram is the time when the death of the Islamic prophet Mohamed is condoled by thousands of his devotees all over the world.

The mood during Moharram day is mournful tense and volatile...We decided to shoot Sammir's character, a Muslim in a real-life Moharram procession. No Indian unit has ever done that.

If anyone had recognized Sammir, anything could've happened to him. He could've been stabbed. I had my unit members mingle with Sammir and see if he was recognized. I had an armed police officer right behind him.

Sammir has broken all the protocol for how an actor prepares. Most actor prepare for a role close to home. Sammir has dared to go down to the grassroots and experience a culture that's totally alien and fightening to him.

We had a police-petrol car ready to whisk Sammir away at the hint of trouble. Fortunately nothing untoward happened."

Though the Mukhbir unit had acquired the required permission and governmental security to do so, the situation was nonetheless tense.

Recalls Sammir, "I wasn't familiar with the rituals of Moharram. Nor was I fully aware of the dangers. But when I was asked to get into the midst of the procession I was left to my own devices.

All around me there were people bleeding from their heads and hands. The atmophere was charged and electrifying. Anything could've happened."

The unit of Mukhbir has captured some truly exceptional shots of the film's hero as he mingles with the mourners of Moharram.

Says the director, "Our major cities with a large Muslim population has a certain mixture of old and modern values. The Moharram procession every year is an integral and essential part of the city's culture. In capturing the life of my protagonist I've tried to capture the city like never before. You've to see Sammir's heart-melting performance and how much it reflects the vulnerability and strength of the city."

Mukhbir being readied for a January 2008 release, is the story of a government informer, played by Sammir who changes his identity and religion to serve the government's anti-terrorist purposes.

Says Mani Shankar, "I'd like to believe that such a role and character have never been put on screen before. Sammir Dattani is going to make the kind of impression only a few fortunate newcomers make."