It has all the ingredients of a Bollywood potboiler - a woman taking on the alleged "goondaraj" of her rivals and wiping out criminals with a "firm determination". But the protagonist is no film star but Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati,who is going to take centrestage in a series of films being made by the state government to bolster the image of the BSP government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The script of the films,which are going to be screened in mobile theatres and possibly some cinema halls,is based on a booklet released by the state government on completion of one year in office: "Uttar Pradesh: Vikas aur Pragati Ka Ek Varsh'. These films highlight alleged "goondaraj" in the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav regime and attempts made to rid the state of this by eliminating dreaded dacoits and bringing notorious criminals to book,a senior Information and Public Relations (IPR) department official told reporters. Under attack from the opposition for its "failure" to improve law and order of the state,these films would show "firm determination" of Mayawati in dealing with criminals and even highlight arrest of BSP leaders,involved in criminal activities,party sources said. "With this,the government wanted to drive home the point that it is not soft on those involved in criminal activities even if they belong to BSP. It also aimed at brushing aside false propaganda of the opposition",they said. "These films are being shot in different parts of the state targeting rural folk,especially those who vote with Mayawati taking the centerstage",the official said. The films are being made by a private firm and will be formally screened next week before senior officials of the state,the official said,adding there would be one 25-30 minute film besides six films of one minute each and one of four minutes. Senior state government officials,who saw these films earlier had suggested some changes,which have been incorporated now,the official said. The producer of the film- IPR department has mobile theatres which will screen these documentaries across the state to apprise the people about the works done by the Mayawati government in the past 20 months. Besides plans are also afoot to screen these films in cinema halls,the official said. The developmental projects being initiated by the State government to provide basic amenities to the people,specially for downtrodden and minorities would be one of the main focus of the films,they added. With these films,the state government aims at improving its image and clarify allegations made against it especially among its Dalit vote bank.
