Filmmaker Mahendra Kokkirigadda is coming up with a biopic, Nalini Katha, on Nalini Sriharan, who is currently serving life imprisonment for her role in the assassination of former India Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The nine-times National Award winner says he wants to showcase the beautiful love story of Nalini and Murugan (Sriharan).
“The biopic (Nalini Katha) is from Nalini’s point of view how an innocent, beautiful young girl falls in love with a young guy; how they date and how her life takes a dramatic turn after agreeing to do him a small favour,” reveals Mahendra, adding that the film ends with Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.
The filmmaker, who earlier has done theatre plays on this story, fundamentally questions the process that has denied a pardon to Accused, A26 - Nalini
“When Godsey who killed Mahatma Gandhi was released in 13 years, why can’t an innocent woman (as stated by the SIT investigating officers) be released even after 28 years? I think she’s the longest serving woman prisoner in the world,” Mahendra argues.
“When hardcore criminals and terrorists were released on the pretext of good conduct, can’t Nalini be released?” he questions.
Asked whether he had taken the requisite permissions from all those who are part of the story, he replies that he is not exactly making an autobiography. “My story is about a beautiful love story behind an assassination; that’s it,” says the writer, adding, “I met the advocate of Nalini, Rajya Sabha Member Vaiko, and a few political personalities in Tamil Nadu. Moreover, the film is not about to whom Nalini was born, where she was raised, etc. So I need not seek permissions from anyone.”
Mahendra, who’s roots are in Bheemavaram, says he’s game to face any consequences that may arise from his decision to make a film on the subject. “When I told the same story in the form of a theatre play in Chennai and Nellore, police officials objected and had it cancelled.
So I have no qualms about making it into a film,” claims the writer, who has and directed 38 plays. The bilingual film, produced by Ravi Kumar, will go on floors once normality is restored.
