Propaganda against Terrorism and Racism

The Animation Film, ‘My Dear Bapuji’ based on Gandhi’s life, is in the making.

Kochi: The Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation has decided to organize propaganda at the national level-Know Gandhiji- with a view to impart Gandhiji’s ideals to the young generation. The programme aims at warning the children on the evils of racism and terrorism.  The Foundation is about to release an animation film, ‘My Dear Bapuji’, with this theme.  The enthusiasts behind the project, Foundation Chairman Eby J. Jose, Producer of the film, Retheesh Pazhayaveettil and Director, A.K. Saibar, say that film, originally a pioneering project in Malayalam, will be released in English, and all Indian languages including Hindi.  The architects are on tight schedule finishing the project at the earliest so that the film can be released as part of this year’s Independence Day celebrations.  It has been more than one and a half years since the work started on this forty-five minute long visual treat.  Special effort has been taken to make the presentation impressive to children.

The story runs like this:  Three children (one girl and two boys) get a Genie which enlightens the children on how to be successful in life by gaining knowledge.  Children ask the Genie about Mahatma Gandhi.  The Genie assumes the shape of their favorite Meena teacher and narrates Gandhiji’s life to the children.  The significant happenings throughout Gandhiji’s life are presented in the film.  Gandhiji’s honesty, nonviolent strikes, his good heartedness and secular outlook are all briefly dealt with in this animation film aiming at creating  awareness in children of the great ideals of the Father of our nation.  Gandhiji’s birth, his mother’s devotion to God, the stories of his honesty in school years, the story of Sravanakumaran from the Puranas which enhances one’s love for one’s parents, the incident in which Gandhiji as a boy does penance before his father for dishonesty, the way he keeps his promise to his mother while living in London, the discrimination meted out to him during a train journey in South Africa and how this initiates him into public activities, how he becomes a leader of the struggle for freedom, the first harthal, the massacre of Jalian Wala Bag, the non-cooperation movement, the salt strike, Jinnah’s insistence on forming Pakistan, Gandhiji’s secularist ideals, racial revolts and Gandhiji’s views on the mediocrity in India are the major themes covered.  The narration winds up with the brutal assassination of the Mahatma by Godse.  The potential viewers being children, the whole presentation has been rendered in keeping  with their tastes and interests. The work is fast nearing completion at the Krishna Infotech, Vaittila, Kochi.

The poster of the animation film has been released by Dr. Sukumar Azheekodu giving a copy of it to the producer, Sri Retheesh Pazhayaveettil.  The Foundation has a long term project of producing animation films on the great freedom fighters like Subash Chandra Bose, Bhagath Singh, Chandrasekhar Asad etc. Another dream project is a similar presentation on the former President of India, late Sri K.R. Narayanan.

Never Alienate Gandhiji: Ratheesh

Kochi: “The project of the animation film was triggered by an earnest longing to keep Gandhiji alive in the hearts of the young generation”, says Retheesh Pazhayaveettil, the producer.  The idea struck him two years back.  He wanted to exploit the scope and possibilities of modern technology to impart knowledge on Gandhiji to children.  Retheesh, an office bearer of the Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation has sound knowledge of the animation technology and the works on the film is going on in Krishna InfoTech, a concern run by him.

The foundation has decided to start a nation wide propaganda on Gandhian ideals under the initiative of the Chairman of the Foundation Sri Eby J. Jose.  The programme is entitled, “Know Gandhiji”.  The idea of a film of this kind came from Eby and Retheesh says he addressed himself to the task inspired by patriotism and a commitment to Gandhian thought.

The next step was to discuss the project with the director A.K. Saiber.  Researches on a script for the film were soon finished.  Many different ideas emerged.  At last the idea of Genie telling the story was accepted. Retheesh says the team is on a consorted effort to release the film on this year’s Independence Day. A.K. Saiber has widely acclaimed as the director of the popular animations like ‘Bobanum Mollyum’.  The whole project is under the general supervision of Sri Eby J. Jose.

This film is the first of its kind in Malayalam.  It will be dubbed into English and all the Indian languages including Hindi.  Retheesh is the son of Sri Krishnan Nair, Pazhayaveettil, Chethimattom, Pala.  His wife is Ambili and their daughter, Krishnanjali.