Bollywood urged to step forward with its version Indian of Summer

Seeing Cate Blanchett starrer epic 'Indian Summer' is put on hold because of budgetary constraints, Indo-Americans have urged the Bollywood filmmakers to step forward to make a movie on this historic milestone of India.

Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said this was a golden chance for Bollywood to prove that it could produce a world class product with domestic talent, technology, and finances about a major turning point in India’s history when British handed over the power to India.

Rajan Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, argued that with more familiarity with their own turf, Bollywood was expected to do more justice with the topic.

Controversial “Indian Summer”, which was expected to begin shooting in India in February next, has reportedly been put on back burner because of cost consideration, estimated between 30 to 40 million dollars. Logistical issues of shooting in India, creative constraints in depicting some controversial topics, and recession were reported to be other reasons for shelving the project, besides belt-tightening at the Universal Pictures.

Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth) was reportedly selected to play Lady Edwina Mountbatten, wife of last British viceroy of India, in this movie portraying last days of British rule in India, while Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant (Four Weddings and a Funeral) was reportedly tipped as last British Viceroy in India Lord Louis Mountbatten. Filmfare Award winner Irrfan Khan (Slumdog Millionaire) was anticipated to play India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Government of India officials, after scrutinizing the script, reportedly conditionally showed green light for its shooting to go ahead.

Aimed at a release in 2011, this Universal Pictures and Working Title Films drama was to be reportedly directed by BAFTA winner Joe Wright (Atonement) and written by Oscar nominated William Nicholson (Gladiator), and would have shown Mountbatten handing over the power during the summer of 1947 to Nehru. It was based on the book “Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire” by Alex von Tunzelmann. Film was reportedly to follow the important events during India’s Independence. It was planned to be shot in capital Delhi, Punjab, Jammu-Kashmir, and other parts in India.

There are about sixteen movies already with the name of “Indian Summer”, first released in USA on June 21, 1912. “Indian summer” is an informal expression for the period of warm, sunny weather in autumn.

--SAMPURN