Mahesh Manjrekar forays into dangerous territory by planning a project on current Maharashtra (MNS and Shiv Sena) politics

Migrants and Marathis

Mahesh Manjrekar forays into dangerous territory by planning a project on current Maharashtra (MNS and Shiv Sena) politics

Mahesh Manjrekar is planning a controversial and colourful film that is bound to stir a hornet's nest. He has scripted a scathing commentary on present-day Maharashtra politics, encompassing the whole gamut ranging from staunch regionalism to the anti-migrants' policy.

Playing games
The prolific director-actor is not the least fearful of offending the powers-that-be in Maharashtra. "My film is not judgemental about Maharashtra politics. I am fascinated by the entire spectrum of politicians and their chess-like maneuvers inu00a0 the state. Everyone is playing a game of one-upmanship. There are no real issues that bother politicians in Maharashtra. Every issue is raised for the vote bank. That's why I've called my film Buddhi Bal which is the Marathi word for chess."

The project also makes scathing comments on MNS activities against poor migrants from Bihar and UP. Manjrekar has been researching the hard-hitting political drama for months. He will roll the film in October.

Says Manjrekar, "I've selected actors who resemble the politicians. Thisu00a0 makes the task of making audiences empathise with actors much easier. I don't have to spend time in explaining family trees."u00a0

About the possibility of certain powerful political forces taking offence, he says, "I've never feared repercussions. If I did, I wouldn't haveu00a0 madeu00a0 films like Vaastav, Astitva and The Struggler. The distributors thought I was mad."

Not afraid
Buddhi Bal will be in Marathi. "It has to be as I can't make a film on Marathi politicians in any other language." But it will have an all-India release. "I think the element of identification would be very strong for the audience."

Manjrekar's all-time favourite Sachin Khedekar will act in the film.

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