Gour Hari Dastaan — The Freedom File’, based on the life of an Odisha freedom fighter, is the first shot of poet, novelist and journalist CP Surendran as a screenplay writer. He says this biopic is different because “It is a biography of an unknown Indian”.
Directed by Ananth Mahadevan, the movie is based on the life of freedom fighter Gour Hari Das and is made on a budget of approximately `6 crore.
In recent times, biopics on sports stars like Milkha Singh and Mary Kom rocked the box office.
“This is my debut screenplay. The theme they gave me was of a freedom fight and I didn’t like it. So, initially I declined the offer,” Surendran is quoted as saying. “After sometime, they approached me again with a file of documents. And Ananth said let’s meet Gour,” he added.
Vinay Pathak will be seen as the freedom fighter while Konkona Sen Sharma plays his wife. The cast also features Ranvir Shorey and Divya Dutta.
The film, which shows Gour’s struggle in two phases, one against the Britishers and the other against the Indian bureaucracy, has a contemporary touch to it. “The movie also includes issues like women’s rights, man-woman relationship, my personal experience of a son to my father…all have figured in the screenplay,” Surendran said.
The film is expected to be released in early 2015.