UTV, Smriti Irani to produce series on Mahatma Gandhi's life

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) After forming the backdrop of many a film in the past two decades, life of Father of The Nation Mahatma Gandhi will now be the subject of a new series on television.

An epic TV series on the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi, not just his incessant search for truth but also his role as a husband, father and a family man will be produced by UTV Television in collaboration with Smriti Irani Productions Limited, UTV sources said.

''The epic of all epics, this drama series on the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi would seek to tell the whole life-story of Gandhi and his incessant search for Truth. And not just the things the Mahatma is known for,''the sources said.

The company sources said the project, scheduled to go into production in the next few months, would be one of the pioneering ventures on television in a way that it would be for the first time that an Indian Production house is planning a project for the world-wide audience. Discussions with the US and UK broadcasters are in the pipeline.

Talking about the venture, actor-producer Smriti Irani said,''Mahatma Gandhi was also a husband, father and a family man.

Though his sacrifices have been chronicled on screen before, we would also like to highlight the sacrifices made by his family, a story largely untold. We would also be shooting on the actual location to give authenticity it deserves.'' Says the COO of UTV Television, Ajit, ''UTV television has always looked for innovation in whatever it ventures into. When Smriti came up with the concept, I found it very interesting and novel.

Gandhi has been one of the greatest political leaders and thinkers of 20th century, we would like to encapsulate the golden era with great dignity, panoramic sweep and excellence in production.'' The series is the latest in the line of ventures based on life of Mahatma Gandhi. The last two decades have witnessed several filmmakers encapsulating the life of the Father of the Nation on the screen--from Richard Attenborough ('Gandhi'), Shyam Benegal ('The Making of The Mahatma') and Feroz Abbas Gandhi's 'Gandhi My Father'.

However, while 'Attenborough's 'Gandhi' and Benegal's 'The Making of The Mahatma' dealt with Mahatma's role in the freedom struggle and his Satyagraha Movement, 'Gandhi My Father' focussed on Mahatma Gandhi's role not as the Father of the Nation but as the Father of his son Harilal Gandhi.

The series also continues the trend on television of making series, either on the life of historical figures or on a period of history.

While series like 'Ramayan' on NDTV Imagine and 'Kahaani Hamaaray Mahabhaarat Ki' on 9X are being aired currently, 9X recently announced its intention of making a series on life of Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

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