Ahead of the Assembly elections, Narendra Modi is set to “inspire” a feature film about a Chief Minister who is a development man with an indomitable will and the vision to take the state down the path of progress.

Financed by Surat-based builder Ranmal Ahir, who admits to being a Modi supporter, the film to be made both in Hindi and Gujarati has Akhilendra Misra (the ‘Mirchi Seth’ of Sarfarosh) in the lead role. It will be directed by Ajitsinh Jhala, a National Award winner.

The Leader of the Opposition, who is the villain of the story, will be played by Shakti Kapoor.

While there is the usual disclaimer that the film is based on “imaginary characters”, and the producers say they haven’t met the Chief Minister, there are similarities too close to Modi to neglect. The theme song is Aapnu-Gujarat-Aagvu-Gujarat, a slogan given by Modi after he became Chief Minister in 2001. In keeping with Modi’s post-Godhra makeover, the film’s hero only talks of development and “removing tears of the people”.

The film’s chief minister can be seen supervising the work at the Sardar Sarovar dam site, and it has shots of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway and the Gujarat industry —- all “endorsements” of Modi’s development agenda.

Jhala says he has not zeroed in on a name for the film but it would be either ‘Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat (Hail Proud Gujarat)’ or ‘Gujarat no Nath (Gujarat’s Lord)’. This is the 17th film by the director, who won the national award in 1995 for his feature Manav-ni-Bhavai.

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