BY A STAFF REPORTER

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - Addressing a group of  journalists and a gathering of  filmmakers and others, Krishna Shah, on Nov. 19 announced it was a very special day in his life as it was the beginning of the  realization of a dream – one of  directing a movie on the life of  the late Indira Gandhi who was assassinated 25 years ago. The remark was made at an event organized at the Tanzore restaurant here on a date which would have been the ex Prime Minister’s 92nd birthday had she been alive.

The director told India Journal that this conference was his inaugural official global event  announcing the launch of  his 2 part biopic film “ Mother: The Indira Gandhi Story.”  As much as 50% of the funding for the movie is already in the coffers and Shah welcomed  investment inquiries from like minded people who wish to commemorate the slain  leader.

On proud display at the conference were copies of the script, screenplay, story boards, costumes designs, etc indicating that the planned 2 part epic is well on its way to the big screen. Also for all to see were two pictures, one of  Indira Gandhi alongside another of a morphed photograph of Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit bearing an uncanny resemblance to the leader she will play in the production. The actress was unfortunately not able to be present that evening but sent a message of greeting through Shah and  apologizing for her absence.

Other actors in negotiation include Nana Patekar, Dharmendra and Abhay Deol. For western characters the likes of Tom Hanks and  Tommy Lee Jones are being tapped. The filming is expected to start in spring of 2010, the result of a script evolved by Shah after two decades of  research through published material and innumerable interviews with politicians, journalists, bureaucrats, writers and Indira Gandhi’s contemporaries.

In a moving statement describing the circumstances which led to his fiery intent to immortalize his idol on celluloid , Shah said her story could not be adequately covered in a single installment which is why he is splitting it into parts I and II. In the first he will unfold the period from her birth to her emergence as “ Maa Durga” after her victory against Pakistan in 1971.

The second encompasses  the political span of the rise of her son Sanjay Gandhi until  her assassination. The film will cover every major episode including the controversial ‘Operation Blue Star,’ the emergency, the wars, her brush and defiance of the US administration, her fall from the grace of the multitudes and her reemergence like the mythical  rising of the  phoenix. He will also dwell on the sensitivity of a mother in Indira Gandhi through every person she connected with, her father, her children and the teeming millions she served as Prime Minister. The movie which will be filmed in several locations round the world will be made in Hindi for Indian audiences and English for  international viewers.

Simultaneously Shah also made an announcement on his founding  an NGO “Celebrating Indira Gandhi” (CIG). Its  aim is to propagate her ideals through publication of books, and holding of  seminars, competitions and cultural and educational programs. Kumkum Dutt followed with more details on the organization and expressed her delight in being associated with it.

Prof  Damodar Sardesai, gave a historical perspective of the life and achievements of  the late prime minister and attributed the confidence acquired by the country to her strength of character and her will to succeed in bringing India to the forefront. He fast forwarded through her career including the wars she fought and the fearless stand she took against  world powers when the situation demanded it.

Before the gathering broke for dinner Krishna Shah expressed his gratitude to many individuals present at the event who  had supported his endeavors and closed the proceedings  expressing his heartfelt thanks to wife Diane and son Judd for their patience and understanding.