Sharad Pawar shown as Sushilkumar Shinde's mentor in movie based on HM's life

MUMBAI: A Marathi film seemingly based on the life of Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has failed to enthuse audiences. " Dusari Goshta", a tale of a boy who struggles against all odds to become a Union minister, had opened in cinemas across Maharashtra on May 1, which the state also celebrates as 'Maharashtra Day'.

The film, whose title means "second story" in Marathi, has characters similar to several politicians, including Shinde, Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh and former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. It also shows the hanging of a terrorist as a key achievement of Prasannakumar Shinde, the film's main protagonist.

"Dusari Goshta" shows Prasannakumar Shinde's struggle in Solapur district—which, incidentally, is the home minister's Lok Sabha constituency, his love life and marriage. Another character, seemingly playing the role of Sharad Pawar, is shown to be his mentor.

The film's characters, however, do not have names similar to the politicians they appear to depict— Madam Indumati's character appears modelled on Indira Gandhi, Ullhasrao's character has similarities to Vilasrao Deshmukh, Bharat Parab's character is similar to Sharad Pawar and Rajan's character appears modelled on Rajiv Gandhi.

"We decided right in the beginning that we will not announce that this is a film based on Sushilkumar Shinde's life. If the audience finds it out, it's fine with us," Prasad Mahadkar, the film's producer, told ET. "It is a story that will give inspiration to many. A boy coming from a deprived background and rising to such heights was the subject for us. We worked on the film for over a year. We hope people like it. Since the release of the film, people have got to know that this is based on Shinde's life."