Cecil B. Demille, Martin Scorsese, and Mel Gibson have all made movies about the life of Christ. Now Bollywood is getting in on the act.
The as-yet untitled biopic – claimed by studio Aditya Productions as a first for the Indian film industry – is expected to start filming soon, with versions planned in four Indian languages. Pawan Kalyan will play the lead role in the Telugu and Malayalam language versions, with an announcement expected soon on the stars of the English and Hindi adaptations.
The $30 million, 195-minute epic, to be shot in India and Israel, will release in late 2011. It will include seven songs, but no dancing – a typical element of many Bollywood movies.
Producer Konda Krishnam Raju, speaking in Jerusalem, said, “This is the first time in the 79-year history of the Bollywood film industry that a film on Jesus Christ is being made. Our dream is finally coming true.”
Director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao said, “We are enriched, enthralled and thrilled. We are getting the necessary inspiration.” He added that he hoped the film’s central message would be heard by Israelis and Palestinians: “Wherever there is conflict, pain, war, we would like to take the message of peace and love.”
