Deepa Mehta, Akshay to produce `Komagata Maru’
October 10th, 2008 - 2:10 pm ICT by IANS
Toronto, Oct 10 (IANS) Bollywood star Akshay Kumar and Canada-based Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta will jointly produce a new India-centric film “Komagata Maru”, in which the actor will play the lead role.To cost up to $35 million, “Komagata Maru” will be produced jointly by Hamilton-Mehta Productions Inc in association with Akshay’s home production, Hariom Entertainment.
“It is a film of high-level government intrigue, duplicity, racism, spying, military engagements, court battles, sedition and assassination,” said a statement released here Thursday by Hamilton-Mehta Productions.
Komagata Maru was a Japanese ship which was hired by a Malaysia-based wealthy Sikh Gurdit Singh 94 years ago to bring Indians into Canada in violation of the then racist laws.
The ship, which brought 376 Indians from Hong Kong to Vancouver in 1914, was not allowed to anchor for two months and sent forcibly back to India where more than 20 passengers were killed by British India police in Calcutta.
The film will revisit the brave journey of Indians who wanted a better life in Canada, but were denied entry by the racist government of the time.
“It is a journey of one man’s courage that challenged the largest empire in the world. Set in the year 1914, the film spans two continents. It bares open the heroism of Gurdit Singh, who dares to have an impossible dream - a life of freedom, equality, and dignity,” the statement said.
The statement said Akshay has confirmed he will play the role of Gurdit Singh in the movie, adding that talks were also under way with other actors, including some Hollywood A-listers, to make this a truly international project.
The statement quoted Akshay as saying: “It is an honour for me to play one of the bravest Sikhs, Gurdit Singh, in this tragic forgotten moment in history. I salute those brave souls who sacrificed their lives for justice and equality today.”
Mehta added: “This is an extremely important opportunity for me to reveal a significant moment in Canadian history and illustrate the steadfast bravery of the Sikh community who sacrificed so much to help create a more tolerant community within my adopted country.”
To be filmed in Canada and around the world, it will be distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media.
- Deepa Mehta to begin filming 'Midnight's Children' in September - Jan 04, 2010
- Indian drama in Canadian polls: Delhi filmmaker alleges copyright violation - Apr 02, 2011
- Canada to fund Komagata Maru projects to appease Indo-Canadians - Dec 14, 2010
- Vancouver to raise Komagata Maru memorial - Dec 07, 2010
- Why does Punjab want Komagata money, ask Indians in Canada - Jul 16, 2010
- Apologise to Sikhs for Komagata Maru tragedy: Canadian petition - Apr 14, 2010
- Deepa Mehta picks debutant actor for major 'Komagata Maru' role - Nov 14, 2008
- Indo-Canadian activists ask Canadian PM to apologise for Komagata Maru incident - Nov 18, 2009
- Canada apologised for 1914 Komagata Maru Tragedy, says Krishna - Aug 25, 2010
- Canada has recognised Komagata heroes, not India: kin - Jul 21, 2008
- I'm not doing 'Midnight's Children': Nandita Das - Feb 24, 2011
- Apologise to Indians on Komagata, MP tells Canada PM - Jun 12, 2009
- Punjabi to be Canada's 4th biggest language by 2011 (With Images) - Sep 26, 2009
- Canadian opposition leader backs Indians on Komagata Maru apology - Aug 06, 2008
- Komagata hero's kin wants a memorial in Vancouver - May 26, 2008
Tags: bollywood star, british india, deepa mehta, indian filmmaker, japanese ship, journey of one, military engagements, racist government, racist laws, two continents