The heroic real-life story of sub-inspector Mallikarjun Bande has attracted the attention of the Kannada film industry, and at least three producers are keen to make films on him.
A post-graduate who loved police action so much that he joined the department as a humble constable, Bande rose to become a daring sub-inspector. He died in Hyderabad a week after he suffered gunshot wounds during a shootout in Gulbarga with sharpshooter Munna, who allegedly had connections with the Mumbai underworld. Munna died on the day of the encounter, January 8.
Filmmakers are falling over each other to immortalise Bande on the big screen. Scripting has begun and producers Manjunath Gondavala, Sangamesh, Maruthi Jade and Sharana Basavappa Deshmukh have applied for registration of titles. They plan to rope in top actors from the Kannada industry.
Producer Sangamesh has chosen the title Inspector Mallikarjun Bande. Director Rudrappa’s film Super Cop Bande will be produced by Maruthi Jade and Sharana Basavappa Deshmukh, who says he is a distant relative of Bande.
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has received their requests for title registration. KFCC president H D Gangaraju said, “We are waiting for an NOC (no objection certificate) from Bande’s family. Whoever gets the NOC will get our permission.” If the family objects to the idea, the KFCC says it will make sure nobody makes a film on Bande.
‘Idealistic Cop’
Rudrappa wanted to do a film on Bande when the policeman was still alive. “Unfortunately, we lost him all of a sudden. We don’t want to follow others and make it seem as if we are cashing in on his popularity after his death,” he told Express.
Rudrappa says that is the reason he is reticent to announce his project. He claimed Bande’s family had shown interest in the idea. “But of course, whoever gets the go-ahead from the chamber will make the film,” he said, adding that his only intention was to profile the “real Bande”.
The way he grew up and how he lived is what we want to show the audiences. The producers and I had the opportunity to observe him from close quarters. We will hold a press conference along with the family soon,” he claimed. Bande’s younger brother Prabhu Bande told Express that no one had contacted them. Bande’s wife is grieving and they will discuss it only after the rituals are completed on Monday.
Post a Comment