“Sangh to reach society through Shatak,” Says Dr Manmohan Ji Vaidya at trailer launch of Shatak: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh
Babushahi Bureau
Mumbai, January 2026: The trailer of Shatak: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh, a film tracing the 100-year journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was unveiled in Mumbai, marking a significant moment during the organisation’s centenary year.
The trailer was released by Dr Manmohan Ji Vaidya, senior functionary and member of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal of the RSS, in the presence of several dignitaries.
Ahead of the official launch, the filmmakers hosted a special preview of the trailer exclusively for select members of the media. The preview, held in the presence of Dr Vaidya, provided journalists an opportunity to understand the context, intent and research behind the film.
With 2025 marking 100 years of the RSS, Shatak places itself against the backdrop of a century-long journey that has shaped India’s social, cultural and ideological discourse. The film seeks to move beyond perception-driven narratives and engage audiences with a more nuanced exploration of history, philosophy and institutional evolution.
The trailer indicates that the film will address several long-standing myths associated with the organisation, while bringing forward lesser-known and often unexplored chapters of its history. It touches upon sensitive phases such as the multiple bans imposed on the RSS at different times, its role during the freedom struggle, and the period of the Emergency, aiming to provide historical context to events that have influenced public opinion for decades.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Manmohan Ji Vaidya said, “It is heartening that through the film Shatak, information about the Sangh will reach society through such a powerful medium. A social thinker once observed that between 1875 and 1950, among all movements that began in India, only the Sangh continued without splitting. That continuity, growth and relevance remain its defining strengths even today. The film’s tagline, ‘Naa Ruke, Naa Thake, Naa Jhuke’, truly reflects this journey, rooted in the vision of the Sangh’s founder, Dr Hedgewar. Cinema has the power to touch hearts and minds, and it is commendable that this medium has been chosen to tell the Sangh’s story.”
Director Aashish Mall described the project as deeply personal, saying that extensive research revealed many myths and misconceptions surrounding the organisation. He said the film is an honest attempt to present another perspective, leaving it to audiences to form their own views.
Producer Vir Kapur said the narrative has been carefully developed using existing literature and books, woven together to present a cinematic account of the organisation’s journey. He described the film as a collective creative effort aimed at bringing historical ideas to a wider audience.
Produced by Vir Kapur, co-produced by Aashish Tiwari and presented by Ada 360 Degree LLP, Shatak is based on a concept by Anil D Agrawal and directed by Aashish Mall. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on February 19, 2026.