DD guns down Common Man

MUMBAI, July 25: A 40-episode serial titled Common Man, made by National Award winning film and serial-maker Bhimsain, for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Indian Independence has been rejected by Doordarshan.

8220;We thought we would be praised for making a programme for them DD on the Golden Jubilee without using their money. However, they have not given me a single reason why they will not telecast it,8221; a distraught Bhimsain told Express Newsline.

Two years ago, Bhimsain approached Doordarshan for a 40-episode serial based on a veteran freedom fighter8217;s family with five generations 8212; reflecting the state of the common man 50 years after Independence and a brief history of the five decades. The director had already put in three years of research on the serial when he began shooting in 1995 with over 30 TV stars including Dr Shreeram Lagoo, Uttara Baokar and Arun Bali. The serial also featured interviews of intelligentsia and politicians including Prime Minister I K Gujral. A pilot episode was presented to Mandi House in August last year. On June 16, Bhimsain received an undated faxed letter from the Controller of Programmes in Mandi House stating their inability to telecast the serial.