Film on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad set to hit theatres on Jan 18
Kolkata, Jan 13 (PTI) Scholar and freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's firm belief in Hindu-Muslim unity and his opposition to partition in the pre-Independence days will be the highlight of a new feature film, which is set to hit the theatres on January 18.
Rajendra Sanjay, who penned the story and co-directed the film 'Woh Jo Tha Ek Massiah-Maulana Azad', said the younger generation should get to know what the freedom fighter stood for, in times of crisis.
"The film talks about Azad's principles, his belief in communal harmony, secularist views which was not coloured by any religion and faith in humanity," Sanjay, who visited the city along with lead actor Linesh Fanse and co-director Sanjay Singh Negi, said at a press meet Saturday.
The film will show the events that shaped Azad's life, turning him into a "true mass leader", he said.
"As someone who believed in united India and Hindu- Muslim unity, he had fervently hoped the partition can be avoided. But that wasn't the case," the director-script writer told PTi after the press meet.
'Woh Jo Tha Ek Massiah-Maulana Azad' will also dwell on the phase Azad came into contact with Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 in Delhi, his house arrest for publication of two magazines which propagated nationalist ideas in Kolkata and other defining moments, he stated.
The film will also have references to post- Independence period, following Gandhiji's assassination, Sanjay added.
Co-director Negi said "very few remember Azad as education minister had introduced science and technology as subject in our education system".
The censor board has passed the two-hour-long Hindi film, mostly shot in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, without a single cut, he claimed.
Sharing his experience, Fanse, who plays the titular role, said he had auditioned for Muhammad Ali Jinnah's role, but the directors insisted he played Azad.
"The directors suggested that I would be suitable for the role of Azad. I had to learn Hindu and Urdu for the role," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
