Fly On the Wall
If reports emerging from Mumbai are any indication, a biopic on
the life and works of PM Narendra Modi is being planned before the 2024 Lok
Sabha polls. A Mumbai-based producer Mahaveer Jain, who is considered
close to the PM, is quietly working on the project with leading actors and a
producer. Jain has already made two films on Modi, the last being, Mann
Bairagi, described as an “untold story of Modi’s life”. It has been co-produced
by him with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Mann Bairagi, termed an ‘untold story’ is
expected to trace the journey of the Indian Prime Minister from his early days,
and how he rose to fight against the odds and overcome several hurdles before
being elected. This feature follows the heels of Vivek Oberoi essaying the
Prime Minister in the film PM Narendra Modi, while a TV mini-series called
Modi: Journey of a Common Man has also been made earlier. It may be recalled
that a 10-episode web series, 'Modi: Journey of a Common Man’ was released just
a day after the producers of PM Narendra Modi postponed the movie's release in
2019. Five episodes of the web series, produced by Eros International, were
released. The streaming was put on hold due to impending general elections.
This time, the producers won’t take a chance and are planning much in
advance. The first look of Mann Bairagi was released on Modi's 69th
birthday by actors Prabhas and Akshay Kumar who had asked the Prime Minister
how he liked to eat mangoes in the middle of the elections.The film’s
release is being planned in early 2024, long before the announcement of the
General Elections.
Karnataka leaders in queue
Come 2023 and a season of biopic may be witnessed in Karnataka
too. The first glimpse of the biopic may be witnessed in Karnataka which will
go to polls in May this year. Reports emanating from the state suggest that
veteran Congressman, PC Siddaramaiah, could soon be seen both offline and
online. A biopic is being planned on the 75-year-old leader and former Chief
Minister. Though Siddaramaiah did not reveal anything more about the impending
biopic on his life. But his confidantes signaled that the project is on track.
The name of a Tamil actor, Vijay Sethupathi, is being considered for the role
of a young Siddaramaiah. Some fans of Siddaramaiah have even registered a
company to produce the film on the socialist youth leader who went on to become
the chief minister. When the news of the Siddaramaiah project surfaced,
supporters of veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa also jumped in. They are also
planning to come out with a biopic of their leader.
Modi vs Vajpayee
The BJP leaders were
somewhat taken aback when Rahul Gandhi decided to pay homage to late Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Samadhi on December 26. Though some sarcastic
comments were made by the BJP spokespersons following this visit. But it didn’t
cut much ice as Rahul Gandhi explained later to the media that Vajpayee never
believed in the politics of hate and vendetta. Yashwant Sinha joined in the
controversy soon saying that Modi undermined the achievements during the six
years of Vajpayee's rule and listed them in an article in a leading English
newspaper. This was immediately followed up by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar who remembered the good old days of the NDA. 01 during the Vajpayee
era. While participating in the anniversaries of departed BJP stalwarts, Nitish
praised Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Arun Jaitley and others. Nitish Kumar lamented
the lack of magnanimity and liberality in the BJP leadership at present. A few
days later, he offered tributes to Jaitley on his birth anniversary and, once
again, became nostalgic about his friendship with the stalwart. Asked to
compare the BJP regimes at the Centre then and now, Nitish gave a wicked smile
and said, ‘let it go’. The BJP leadership is also concerned about reports that
some of its leaders like Varun Gandhi may desert the party before the 2024 Lok
Sabha polls.
Azad worried
Democratic Azad Party
(DAP) president Ghulam Nabi Azad has reasons to be worried as National
Conference, PDP, CPM and other small groups may join hands with the Congress to
fight Assembly polls in J&K together. With Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra
preparing to enter Kashmir and the Gandhi family scion to hoist tricolour at
Srinagar, Azad is trying to grapple with this new development. Farooq Abdullah
and Mehbooba Mufti have signaled that they will join Rahul's Yatra. Abdullah
even joined Rahul Gandhi's yatra in UP and surprised many. Rahul's yatra has
rejuvenated the otherwise laid back state unit of the Congress. The main worry
of Azad is that his own party is riddled with dissidence and he had to expel
many senior leaders from the party itself. Azad is also worried many of his own
party leaders may cross over to the Congress as the mood is changing in the
valley.
