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The company doesn't like it

V S Srinivasan

Milind Gunaji. Click for bigger pic!

In the last few years, film-makers have come up with themes on some controversial real-life figures.

Shekhar Kapur irked the censors and drew audiences in their millions to see his Bandit Queen on Phoolan Devi's life; Mani Ratnam made Bombay where he had Tinnu Anand take off on Bal Thackeray. Both Phoolan Devi and Thackeray gave these film-makers hell before they let go.

The next director to attract trouble is Vinay Shukla, who is making Godmother, allegedly inspired by the life and times of the very real Santokben Jadeja, alleged to be the top ganglord in Porbunder, Gujarat.

Jadeja, who operates in the same town Mahatma Gandhi was born in, has a series of charges, including killings, against her. She is now planning to sue the film-makers, like Phoolan Devi did.

Shabana Azmi is playing the title role. And despite the title, that harks back to a mushy, all PC Mother, this is not a potboiler. It's about the transformation of a simple village couple into the scum of the city. Dear me, somehow seems like we've heard even this before, despite Azmi's forbidding presence.

Govind Namdeo with Sulbha Deshpande. Click for bigger pic!

This answer to Mario Puzo's Godfather comes Vinay Shukla who has behind him scripts like Hum Paanch, Mujrim, Aitbar, Thanedaar, Pyari Behna, Ram Jaane and Virasat.

And contrary to earlier claims by him, Shukla vehemently denies that the film is based on Jadeja.

"No it is not based on her life at all," he repeats, clearly worried by Jadeja's threat.

The film already had trouble when a stuntman, Yusuf, died on the sets. Actor Nirmal Pandey was to knock him into a net, but the net gave way and Yusuf fell on his head.

Godmother is the tale of Rambhiben (Shabana Azmi) who comes to the city along with her family. Her husband (Milind Gunaji), is drawn into the underworld. Unfortunately. he takes on the more dangerous politicians and pays for this.

Nirmal Pandey. Click for bigger pic!

Though Gunaji has had good roles in Govind Nihlani's Drohkaal and Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa apart from the lead role in Sai Paranjpye's Papeeha, he claims this is his best role to date.

"It has a great tale attached to it and the language is quite interesting. I simply love the Gujju dialect I speak in the film. It is a role where I have a lot of shades... Slightly similar to what Al Pacino played in The Godfather," he says. Besides Gunaji and Azmi, the film has heavyweight backing in Nirmal Pandey and Govind Namdeo.

"Rambhi decides to revolt and that is why she becomes a don. At heart, she is basically a village woman who still has certain values left in her. There are instances when she goes about mercilessly killing people... But then the woman in her revolts. After all she is a woman. She is a mother. All these things get back to her and that makes her think as to what she is doing," says Shukla.

Shukla had Azmi in his mind all along while writing the script. "I made a small sketch of the character before approaching Shabana. She was quite enthusiastic about the role. She went through the role and decided that she was doing it. I then signed on Javed Akhtar for the lyrics and Vishal Bharadwaj to compose the music."

There are two more schedules of the film left. Hopefully, Shukla and crew will not encounter Jadeja and company.