Modi Ji Ki Beti, Trailer launch: What’s in a surname?

Modi is not a common a surname as Shah, Patel and Mehta in India and Smith in England. But, in India, it happens to be the surname of Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. That should work in favour of persons with such a surname, only Narendra Modi has no children.

Film, TV and theatre actress Avani Modi, who comes from a small town in Gujarat, and has worked mainly in Tamil and Gujarati films, faced a queer situation when it came to her surname. She was sitting in a restaurant with a man who releases both Indian and Pakistani films in the UK. Being out of work at that time, she sounded the man on possibilities of acting assignments. He replied, “You could work in Pakistani films.” She thought for a second and agreed to the proposal of working in films made across the border. After all, Pakistani actors have worked in Indian films, so why can’t an Indian actress work in Pakistani films. “But there is a major problem with the idea,” continued the man, almost in the same breath, “your surname! How will Pakistanis accept an actress with the same surname as the Prime Minister of India! You know how hostile some Pakistanis are to the ideals that Narendra Modi stands for.” That was that.

However, the matter did not end there. Avani saw in this conversation the germ of an idea, and germinate it did. For the first time in her life, she picked up the pen (digitally speaking) and wrote out a story. A story about two bumbling Kashmiri terrorists who kidnap a woman called Avani Modi, believing her to be the PM’s daughter. Pakistani authorities are nonplussed, and tell them off, saying that it is persons like them who give Pakistan a bad name. But what to do with the ‘kidnapee’?

Watching the trailer, one could not help recalling the spoofs made by the late crazy genius, producer, writer, director and actor, I.S. Johar, setting his stories in Goa, Kashmir and Bangladesh. He had also announced one called Johar and Johar in China, but, for unknown reasons, did not make it. Far from being political, the film is a comedy, which, by its satirical overtones, highlights the issue of Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan have fought three wars. A straight-from-the-heart observation was made by actor Tarun Khanna, who opined, “There must be just a few hundred Pakistani’s who nurse animosity towards India. The vast majority of them want peace and friendship. My character represents their voice.”

As director, Avani has Eddy Singh (also one of the producers), who has made hundreds of ad and documentary films, and this is his debut feature. He calls It “…a light-hearted family entertainer.” In the cast are Avani, playing a “fictional version” (as she told me) of herself, Orissa-born Pitobash (one of the ‘terrorists’, who is also a producer on this film), Vikram Kochchar, whose face lends itself to comedy quite naturally, Tarun Khanna, with a toned body, who plays the Pakistani officer given the task to return Avani to India, and Kavita Ghai (role undefined). Urdu dialogue is the handiwork of Tripurari Sharma. Shades of patriotism and woman power dot the storyline. One telling line in the film comes from a Pakistani/Kashmiri, who berates the kidnapper duo, when they say that they have got hold of Modi’s daughter, “And what do you hope to achieve by this silly act of yours?” or something to that effect.

Modi Ji Ki Beti has a title that loosely translates as ‘The Daughter of Mr. Modi’, which, in reality, Avani Modi is, Modi being the surname she inherited from her father. “We Modis, all over India, hold our heads high with pride that one member of our community is the PM of the country.”

Promoted by Brandex, which has been behind some 400 films and which is also an Associate Producer, though it came on board only after the film was completed. The trailer launch was their kick-off event, and they are working on ideas to give the film a push. All the above-mentioned persons were present at the PVR Icon Multiplex, Andheri, except Kavita Ghai, and were presented on the stage. They included producer Arpit Garg. Brandex was represented by Arshad Siddiqui. They also spoke to the press. Modi Ji Ki Beti is a small-budget indie movie that was partly shot in difficult conditions in Kashmir, and will rely heavily on word of mouth publicity, once it opens in cinema-halls on 14 October.