Sharmila’s first test: Film on Hedgewar

One of the first films that the new members of the Censor Board, under the chairmanship of Sharmila Tagore, will preview is Swayamsevak — a 30-minute film on Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, celebrating the life and times of the RSS ideologue. Directed by filmmaker Yakub Sayeed, a former DD official, the film has been commissioned by the Films Division at a little over Rs 9 lakh, and was sent for certification two days ago.

Sayeed had written a letter in March last year to then PM A.B. Vajpayee, seeking his permission to make a film on Hedgewar. Sayeed said the PMO must have forwarded his letter to then I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. ‘‘The Films Division sent me a letter commissioning the money for the film,’’ he said. The film stars Tom Alter and a local actor from Nagpur playing the role of Hedgewar.

Sayeed is now awaiting a certification from the Board. The decision will reflect the objective stand the new Board members will take on the film. Since the UPA was sworn into power, many of the decisions taken by the BJP have been reversed by the I&B Ministry under Left pressure.