Nakkash director says Kumud Mishra's role 'heavily inspired' by UP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 3, 2019)

Even as projects centred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been barred from screening amidst the ongoing election, Bollywood remains undeterred in telling stories about political figures.

In the latest development, actor Kumud Mishra — who has previously featured in Airlift (2016) and Rockstar (2011) — will be seen playing a character inspired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Nakkash. The film, set in Banaras, apparently revolves around the idol makers of the holy city.

Unwilling to divulge too many details about the role, director Zaigham Imam describes Mishra's character as a "local leader of Banaras." "The character is heavily inspired by him [Yogi Adityanath] and he is presented in a positive light. It is such designed that the audience will enjoy his presence," he says.

The drama, he reveals, has got the go-ahead from the censor board ahead of its release next month. Ask him if he is worried about the film courting controversy, and he says, "It is one of the main characters in the narrative and will move the audience. Let the film do the talking upon its release."

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 29, 2016)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav launched the trailer of Alif in the presence of Jaya Bachchan, Anurag Kashyap, and Abhishek Bachchan in Lucknow recently at an event regarding subsidies to films that are shot in UP.

Directed by former journalist, Zaigham Imam, who debuted as a director with Dozakh – In search of heaven, Alif is about a father, his ambition to make his son a doctor, and his fight with the orthodox education system. Shot in Varanasi, the film’s post-production was wrapped up recently. It features Neelima Azeem (in a still from the film), Danish Hussain, among others while Jaya Bachchan has lent her voice as the narrator.

The film had its world premiere in Australia’s Indian International film festival in November and has been screened in several Indian universities, including the Aligarh Muslim University recently.

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; September 6, 2014)

Debutant director Zaigham Imam is a harrowed man. On August 11, he applied for a censor certificate for his film, Dozakh In Search Of Heaven, and on August 23, its screening was attended by Raj Kumar, Regional Officer (RO), CBFC Delhi, who has now taken additional charge of Mumbai, and a few other board members. After the screening, they apparently sent his film to a self- revision committee since there was no Muslim in the committee that had just watched the film.

Says a source, “Nandini Sardesai and a few other members attended the revision committee screening. Thereafter, he was told that the film would get a U certificate.”

However, later on, two board members apparently asked the director to show his film to a few Muslim priests and seek clearance from them. Imam complied with this and showed them a letter of approval. The members then insisted that he organise a screening attended by Muslim clerics and Censor Board members. The voice of dissent in the board soon reached chairperson Leela Samson in Chennai, who then watched the film and gave it a U certificate,” says the source, adding, “She apologised to Imam saying that no board members would henceforth ask him to show his film to priests before seeking a certificate.”

Confirming the story, Imam says, “The board should take action against members who suggest that makers show their film to priests. I had to run from pillar to post and I will complain to the I& B ministry.”

While Raj Kumar, Delhi and Mumbai RO, refused to comment, Leela Samson replied to our email saying, “What is there to say?”