A Marathi film based on the life and achievements of Union Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari is set to release on October 27. The film, titled ‘Gadkari’, will showcase his journey from a humble political worker to a visionary leader who transformed the road sector in India.
From Jan Sangh to BJP President
The film will depict Gadkari’s early days as an activist of the Jan Sangh, the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He rose through the ranks of the BJP and its youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, and became one of the youngest state and national presidents of the party. He also enjoyed the support and blessings of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Flyovers
One of the highlights of the film will be Gadkari’s tenure as the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister in Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999, when he was part of the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government. He spearheaded the country’s first expressway project, linking Mumbai and Pune, and changing the face of travel between the two key cities. He also took up the ambitious project of building 55 flyovers in Mumbai to ease traffic congestion, which was met with skepticism at that time, but proved to be prophetic later.
The Road Transport and Highways Minister
The film will also showcase Gadkari’s current role as the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, which he has been holding since 2014. He is credited for revolutionising the Indian road sector with a slew of projects implemented, underway or proposed. He has increased the road network by 59 per cent in the past nine years, making him popular among all political parties. He is also a strong advocate for privatisation and public-private partnership in the road sector, and has been recognised by the World Economic Forum as a pioneer in this field.
The Cast and Crew
The film stars Rahul Chopda as Nitin Jairam Gadkari, and Aishwarya Dorle as his wife Kanchan Nitin Gadkari. The film is directed, written and screenplay by Anurag R. Bhusari, presented by Abhijit Majumdar and produced by Akshay A. Deshmukh. The filmmakers promise to reveal some unknown aspects of Gadkari’s life and times that have made him synonymous with modern roads in India.
