Hyderabad: A biographical web series celebrating the life and times of former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao is set to stream on an OTT platform backed by actor Allu Arjun from next year. The project is an adaptation of author Vinay Sitapati’s 2016 biography of the former prime minister, Half-Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India.
Helmed by National Award-winning director Prakash Jha and produced by Aha Studios and Applause Entertainment, the web series is in the works at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, would be posthumously conferred on Rao.
Highlighting Rao’s impact on the economy, Jha told ThePrint, “P.V. Narasimha Rao ji led the evolution of India through liberalisation policies, paving for economic transformation. Coming from a socialist background, Congress party, he shifted the ideas, policies, to that of market economy.”
Modi last month announced on X “his delight in sharing that our former Prime Minister, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna”. He also said Rao’s tenure from 1991 to 1996 “was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development”.
Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as… pic.twitter.com/lihdk2BzDU
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024
“Those five years was a phase of great churn in political, social, and economic spheres in our country, and I, as a common man and a filmmaker, was greatly influenced by all those developments,” Jha said.
Jha is known for his socio-political films like Mrityudand (1997), Gangaajal (2003), Apaharan (2005), Raajneeti (2010), and Satyagraha (2013).
“P.V.’s entire life as United Andhra Pradesh CM, Union minister, etc., has been a fascinating journey. Of course, his prime ministerial years, especially,” he said.
“Unfortunately, such an erudite statesman was a victim of politics within his party — banished by Rajiv Gandhi and coterie earlier and disregarded by those wielding power later,” added Jha.
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‘Multi-language pan India series’
The new P.V. project is the brainchild of Allu Aravind, noted Telugu film producer and father of Pushpa star Allu Arjun. Allu Aravind is the chairman and promoter of the popular Telugu OTT platform, Aha, which has the backing of Arjun.
“Aravind garu reached out to me with a copy of the book and shared his admiration for P.V. whom he described as ‘a great patriot, an icon, especially for south Indians, Telugus’. I had discussions with Sitapati too,” Jha said about his coming on board the project.
Ajit Thakur, director and co-founder of Aha, said the web series, conceived two years ago, would have eight episodes of 45-60 minutes each. “The biopic would be a celebration of the life of the architect of modern India. We are wrapping up the pre-production work, research, writing, script finalisation, etc.,” Thakur told ThePrint.
“The Bharat Ratna honour in recognition of P.V.’s pivotal role in transforming India’s economy amplifies the anticipation for our Half Lion series,” said Thakur.
Not disclosing the budget, Thakur said “the premium, multi-language pan India series” awaits a release in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil languages. The process of casting would begin soon and shooting is expected to commence in the second half of this year, he added.
Telangana BJP spokesperson and P.V.’s grandson N.V. Subhash welcomed the project. “It would greatly help the public, especially the younger generations, to know the statesman better,” he said.
ThePrint reached P.V. Prabhakar Rao, the former prime minister’s only surviving son, and daughter Surabhi Vani, a Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC, for comment via calls but had not received a response by the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
‘Untold story of a political genius’
Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao (1921-2004), better known as P.V. Narasimha Rao or P.V., was the fourth chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh (1971-73), the first from the Telangana region. He hailed from Vangara village in north Telangana.
P.V. later became the 10th prime minister of India in 1991, the first from South India, and led a minority government for a full term.
The book, Half Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India, is described as “the untold story of a political genius”.
“When P.V. Narasimha Rao became the unlikely Prime Minister of India in 1991, he inherited an economic crisis, violent insurgencies, and a nation adrift. Despite being unloved by his people, mistrusted by his party, a minority in Parliament, and ruling under the shadow of 10 Janpath, Rao reinvented India at home and abroad. Few world leaders have achieved so much with so little power,” the book’s cover flap said.
Claiming “exclusive access to Rao’s never-before-seen personal papers and over a hundred interviews”, the book promised to bring “new revelations on India’s economy, nuclear programme, foreign policy, and the Babri Masjid” to the fore.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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