Abhishek does a Kobad Ghandy

His character in Raavana is based on the Maoist leader

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Contrary to popular perception, Abhishek Bachchan's character in Mani Ratnam's Raavana is not based only on the mythological demon. In fact, Abhishek will be seen spouting Maoist ideologies ala Kobad Gandhy in the film. The real inspiration for Abhishek's character Veera came from the Maoist leader. Mani especially appointed researchers to get all the data they can on Kobad so that he can base Veera on him.

In Raavana, Veera is a naxalite leader in the villages of Madhya Pradesh. The organisation he leads is a banned one, just like Kobad's organisation. However, the difference between them is that Veera is an uneducated villager, while Kobad is a well-educated leader. Using these characters, Mani has woven the story of Ramayana into the plot.

This is not the first time Mani has tackled a contemporary issue in his films. His Nayakan was based on the life of an underworld don who was at the peak of his activities that time. His Bombay depicted Hindu-Muslim riots, Guru was based on Dhirubhai Ambani's life and Roja, Dil Se and Yuva dealt with terrorism.

Who is Kobad Ghandy?

Kobad Ghandy is a member of the banned Communist Party of India- Maoist. His main role was to get the support of the urban educated middle classes for their ideology. Originally from Bombay, he studied at the St Xavier's College and did his chartered accountancy from London. The law enforcement agencies finally arrested him in September 2009 in South Delhi.