Lucknow :
The struggle of ‘dhartiputra’ Mulayam Singh Yadav – from a schoolteacher to the chief minister of India’s biggest state – is all set to be documented on the celluloid. The full-length biopic, ‘Netaji – Mulayam Singh Yadav, directed by Vivek Dixit, would trace the Samajwadi Party supremo’s journey from the Etawah countryside in 60s to 5, Kalidas Marg in Lucknow in 1989 when he became the chief minister for the first time.
Mulayam’s younger brother and senior minister Shivpal Yadav will launch the film at a mahurat ceremony in Lucknow on Wednesday. Sources closely associated with the film production told TOI that ‘Massey Saheb’ fame thespian Ragubir Yadav has been approached to play the title role.
“Veteran actor Raghbir Yadav is being considered to play the lead role in the film,” says Ashok Yadav, a minister in Akhilesh cabinet who is also the chief of SP’s Etawah unit, the home turf of the SP’s first family. “We are also in talks with Amitabh Bachchan. Who will introduce the film,” he said.
Dixit, who has earlier produced and wrote ‘Sancha’ (Mould) starring Anupam Kher, told TOI : “The film ends with Mulayam’s first address after becoming the chief minister where he says Lohia ka sapna poora ho gaya .. aaj ek kisan ka beta mukhya mantri ban gaya (Lohia dream has come true. A farmer’s son has become a chief minister).”
Asked about Raghubir Yadav’s casting, he said: “Raghubir Yadav is fit to play Mulayam of today. However, playing his younger self will be difficult for him.” A final call would be taken in lead actors after after a final “look” test in make-up before the camera, he said, adding “The film will also have celebrated make-up artist and national award winner Vikram Gaikwad of ‘Mary Kom’ fame.”
On his inspiration behind making the film on Mulayam, Dixit said: “It was the thought that today parents want their children to become doctors, engineers and scientists but not political leaders. It was this urge to change the perspective that gave me the idea of making a film on a political leader.”
The invite sent for the mahurat ceremony mentions Shilpa Motion Works and Godfather Films as the two production houses handling the project which has a tentative budget of Rs 30 crore. The film is slated to be shot in most of the original locations in and around Etawah. “We have a research team working on the project for the past one year. We have visited the original locations and plan to retain them in the 2 hour 10 minute long film,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Pervez Iqbal Siddique, TNN / August 12th, 2015