Bengali director to make film on Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA - A Bengali filmmaker has decided to make a film based on the political life of Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Director Bidyut Sarkar will begin the shooting for the film on December 4. The film’s budget is 10 million rupees.

The film, in which the protagonist is called Maya Banerjee, will trace Banerjee’s life from the early 1970s to the 2011 provincial assembly polls.

“I wanted to do a political film and Didi’s (Mamta Banerjee) character impressed me a lot. Actually, I am a big fan of hers. That’s why I came up with this story. It was a novel earlier, but my friends insisted on converting it into a film. I am making this film with the title ‘Didi’,” said Sarkar.

“Story starts from 1970s and ends up with the political scenario in 2011, covering all the political incidents of Bengal of Sainbadi, Suchpur, Keshpur, Shingur, Nandigram, Kolkata, her 26 days fast, everything,” he added.

Actress Ruma Chakrabarty has been offered the role of Mamata Banerjee for her build, which is similar to Banerjee’s.

Chakrabarty said she is excited to play the role of such a popular personality.

“I was very excited when I got the film and this character of Mamata Banerjee to play as she is very famous. Even a two-year-old child knows who she is. Then Bidyut Babu told me to study how she speaks, her mannerisms. I started viewing news channels and I am practicing very hard,” she said.

The film is slated for release in 2011 ahead of the provincial polls. y Sankha Ghosh (ANI)