RANCHI: The Jharkhand police on Friday released a two hour-18-minute Hindi feature film on
Naxalism featuring over a dozen policemen, including the state's former DGP, Rajeev Kumar. 'Pratyavartan: The Homecoming' was released at 18 theatres mostly in rural Jharkhand to target youth vulnerable to Maoist influence.
The film - produced at a cost of Rs 82 lakh last year - was financed by Jharkhand police and the state government and it got the CBFC clearance in January. It is seen as part of propaganda
war against the Maoists , who are active in 22 out of Jharkhand's 24 districts. The movie revolves around the life of Maoist Suraj, who believes his comrades have deviated from their ideology. Suraj rescues a gang-rape survivor and falls in love with her. He is torn between his feelings and expectations of his senior zonal commander, Chandan, who wants him to
wage war against the state . The woman plays an important role in convincing him to surrender.
The film depicts life inside the Maoist circles. It captures the pain of the helpless villagers in Maoist areas and their struggle to maintain distance from the extremists as well as the police. A brainchild of Rajeev Kumar, who has written the script, the film stars top serving cops.
While actor-director Nimu Bhaumik has directed the film, popular singer Shaan has sung songs for it. Shreela Majumder, Mousumi Bhattacharya, Ishan and Saikat Chatterjee feature in the film. IG operations and police spokesman M S Bhatia said the film is part of the Centre's attempts to counter left-wing extremism. “We want to maximize the reach of the movie among the people living in the LWE (Maoist) zones to encourage the Maoists to return to the mainstream.'' Kumar, who saw the first day, first show at a multiplex here, said, “The Maoists have lost sheen in the villages because of commercialism and sexual exploitation. They run the movement for money and pleasure, not to change the fate of the poor.“ He added, “In 2002, when I was Palamu DIG, I saw the decline in the values of the Maoists. In the movie, we have tried to show the real picture.“ It did not attract many viewers on the first day due to lack of promotion.