Shah Rukh Khan's Fauji was an iconic show from the '80s that broke boundaries and experimented with a different narrative. It blended facts and fiction
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Indian television has been catering content to different groups of audience for a long time. With a plethora of shows that have the potential to rank on TRP charts, makers are developing some fantastic scripts for the purpose of entertainment. While new shows are doing a great job, serials aired in the '80s, '90s and 2000s have a unique charm.
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A show that managed to do a great job at delivering entertainment was Fauji. Not to forget, it introduced Shah Rukh Khan to the world. In 1989, the military-themed serial was loved by the audience for lending a soft human touch while projecting the hardships of the army.
Fauji followed the training of a group of soldiers. Led by Lt. Abhimanyu (Shah Rukh Khan), they work their way to becoming commandos in the Indian Army. The show was directed by R. K. Kapoor with support from Vikram Chopra and Rakesh Sharma. Fauji was critically acclaimed for looking at the subject through a lens of reality. There was no compromise on humour and entertainment quotient. It offered a thorough view into the lives of soldiers and how they must understand their calling to serve in India's most elite fighting force.
Since the director of Fauji was a lieutenant colonel, the authenticity of the topic and subject area wasn't ignored. While creative liberty was taken to make it palatable for the Indian audience, the show was a tribute to the struggle and efforts taken by youngsters who follow the path of the military. An impactful and entertaining story told in a realistic and simple style made it a win-win.
Fauji catapulted Shah Rukh Khan to fame. Ananth Mahadevan’s book, Once Upon a Prime Time: My Journey on Indian Television, mentions the encounter between Colonel Kapoor and Shah Rukh. It quoted the director, "I goaded him to hit me and he finally did. I could sense his aggressive nature. It was a presence that the camera loved. My Abhimanyu Rai was born, though honestly, I hadn't pencilled him in for the part."
In an old interview, Colonel Kapoor said, "I was looking for commandos and he (Shah Rukh Khan) turned up at my office. I took a look at him and asked 'You are going to be a commando?' He said 'Yes, sir. I will do the role really well'. I looked at his face and the first thing that hit me was the thing that he had done with his nails and cheeks, he had created some dents (dimples). I thought he created it just for the role."
Fauji remains a classic and shall always be an iconic show.
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