15 years on, govt to hunt for new producer for Phule biopic

The Maharashtra government said Tuesday that it has scrapped its 2003 decision to give the responsibility of making a film on social reformer Jyotirao Phule to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

A government order said it has earmarked Rs 20 crore for the project, and would soon issue a tender, inviting production houses to submit bids to produce the film.

"The government has cancelled the decision taken on March 15, 2003 to give the responsibility of production to NFDC because of the delay," the order said.

A panel of experts will be formed to ensure that the film is historically accurate, it added.

Phule, born in western Maharashtra in 1827, is known as one of the most prominent and influential social reformers of his times.

Senior film critic Ashok Rane recounted that eminent playwright Pralhad Keshav Atre had produced a film on Phule's life in 1954 which won President's silver medal for the best feature film in Marathi.

The Maharashtra government and the NFDC had earlier jointly produced a biopic on Dr B R Ambedkar in 1999.