MUMBAI: Dr Jabbar Patel’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, which was released in 2000, will be re-released all over in India simultaneously in nine languages in December.
The film is directed by Dr Patel and stars Mammootty, Sonali Kulkarni, Mohan Gokhale, Mrinal Kulkarni, Alisa Bosschaert, Ma Jivan Mary, Tirlok Malik, Govind Namdeo, Anjaan Srivastav and Rahul Solapurkar.
“Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar will be re-releasing all over India simultaneously in nine languages. In 2000, the movie was released in only two languages – Hindi and English in Maharashtra. However, now it will be released in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Oriya, Gujarathi, Punjabi and Bengali with 100 prints and 350 theatres through UFO Moviez all over,” says Dr Patel.
“This film has won three National Awards – Mammootty for best actor, Nitin Desai for best art director and for the Best English film. The film was shown in film festivals like London Film Festival, Harare Film Festival, South Asian Film Festival and the Dalit International Conference,†he adds.
Adlabs Films managing director Manmohan Shetty will be helping in exhibition all over India and distributor Ajit Malik of Bhagyashri has bought the all India rights for the film.
“Air India, Indian Airlines and L.I.C. will sponsor our promotion like hoardings etc. The movie, which was made on a budget of Rs 90 million (Rs 9 crore), will be tax-exempted all over India. On 13 October, the minister of social justice Chandrakant Handore gave us Rs 10 million (Rs 1 crore) for the publicity,†informs Dr Patel.
The National Film Development Corporation Ltd. will be presenting the film, which is a Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India and Government of Maharashtra production.
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is written by Sooni Taraporevala, Arun Sadhu and Late Daya Pawar. The research has been done by Dr Y.D. Phadke, whereas Shyam Benegal was the consultant for the film. The cinematography is by Ashok Mehta and the music has been provided by Amar Parshuram Haldipur.
