BOMBAY TIMES (October 14, 2012)

 

Earlier this week, when Ashutosh Gowariker attended the premiere of Ujjwal V Thengdi’s (right) In The Name Of Tai, based on the life of murdered human rights activist Navleen Kumar, the director was all praise for it. “I’m not surprised that a realistic film like this has received a good commercial opening,” he said, adding, “I can’t imagine Ujjwalji has himself handled 15 segments of the film including the lyrics, the music and the choreography, besides writing the story!”

Thengdi, the movie’s director and producer, says he knew Navleen closely and had witnessed her fight for the land rights of adivasis in Maharashtra’s Thane district for more than a decade. So, through the film, he intends to expose the country’s land mafia and also seek justice for Navleen since her alleged murderers got off scot-free. He says, “It’s a hard-hitting story. I’ve taken cinematic liberties to expand the character based on Navleen.” The film was shot at the same location where Navleen was stabbed 19 times.

Some of the proceeds from the box-office collection of the film will go for an NGO established by Ujjwal and his co-producers.

In The Name Of Tai, produced by Oum Films, released October 12.