Pol-ethics at play

Will Munnabhai work its magic for Sanjay Dutt’s Lok Sabha campaign? To find out, read on

What do Masoom, Mother India and Munnabhai have in common? Other than the ‘M’, the films’ starred future politicians of India. Masoom had Shabana Azmi, Mother India had Sunil Dutt and Munnabhai had Sanjay Dutt.Dutt’s party members are only too glad about his decision as they see in Dutt the return of innocence to politics. Dutt admitted that he aims to put across the Munnabhai image prominently through his propaganda material for the Lok Sabha elections, he said, “I’m all heart and that won’t change when I get into politics. The Munnabhai character is closest to what I am.”But it isn’t going to be that easy for Dutt. According to the Election Commision’s Code of Conduct any film/ starring Dutt(or any actor) will not be allowed to screen during the campaign period. Therefore the question on everybody’s mind; When is Munnabhai Chale Amrika (MCA) coming in? Dutt who is shooting in Cape Town for Luck said, “The shoot for the MCA film will definitely begin in December 2009.” Though our sources claim Dutt and his supporters want MCA to begin earlier this year, “The one film that will get top priority in Dutt’s celluloid shuffle is the next Munnabhai film. Feelers have been sent to director Raj Kumar Hirani and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra to ensure it happens as soon as possible,” said our source.But this is not going to happen as the director has his hands full with 3 Idiots till the year end. A source said, “Hirani will say goodbye to the Munnabhai series after MCA to make a film for Sanjay Dutt Productions. It definitely won’t be a Munnabhai film as the copyrights for Munnabhai belong to Vinod Chopra. Abhijat Joshi who has co-written the first three Munnabhai films will probably direct the fourth Munnabhai one.”The film will feature Munna’s kooky sidekick Arshad Warsi. Since MCA takes Dutt and Warsi to the United States of America, Barack Obama has been weaved into the script.