Films have depicted the saga of brilliant achievers with gusto

The lives and times of many illustrious personalities have been depicted in motion pictures and have, as a matter of fact, often proved even more absorbing and instructive than books, as a certain degree of artistic license is permissible in movies.

For instance, Richard Attenborough’s magnum opus ‘Gandhi’ is a critically acclaimed biographical film, featuring Ben Kingsley’s near-flawless, Oscar-winning portrayal of Gandhi. While praised for its sweeping, respectful depiction of Gandhi’s philosophy and non-violent movement, it is often seen as a polished, conventional biopic that focuses on sanctifying its subject rather than exploring political complexities.

‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’, likewise, is a notable biographical drama starring Dev Patel as Srinivasa Ramanujan, chronicling journey of the mathematical genius from poverty to Cambridge University, focusing on his collaboration with G H Hardy, English mathematician known for his work in number theory and mathematical analysis.

Also belonging to the same genre is ‘Emergency’, a Hindi language biographical drama starring Kangana Ranaut as Indira Gandhi, on whose life the film focuses, from her upbringing to her tenure as the Prime Minister, with a significant emphasis on the 1975-1977 Emergency period. It highlights her political challenges, such as the 1971 war and Operation Blue Star, and her relationship with son Sanjay Gandhi. It may be recalled that yet another remarkably realistic portrayal of Indira Gandhi was rendered by the legendary actress Suchitra Sen in ‘Aandhi.’

Quite apart from dealing with the lives and times of people, some movies have even described the exciting and most gripping journey of the universe itself.

For instance, ‘Journey of the Universe’ is a notable documentary biopic that traces the 14-billion-year evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to the present. It weaves together scientific discoveries in cosmology, biology, and ecology with a humanistic perspective.

‘Yatra’ is a biographical political drama chronicling the 1,500 km ‘Padayatra’ of Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh 2004-09. Starring Mammootty, the film depicts YSR’s rise to power, focusing on his empathy for the poor and the welfare strategies developed during his journey.

I had the privilege of serving as the Chief Secretary of the government of Andhra Pradesh when he was the Chief Minister, a period that will remain etched in my memory as one of the best of my professional career. The movie also briefly showed a young man playing me in my sub-collector’s days, in conversation with YSR.

‘Jagadguru Adi Shankara’ is another prominent Telugu biopic film depicting the life of Adi Shankaracharya, showcasing the philosopher-sage’s journey in spreading Advaita Vedanta.

The lives of movie actors make for a fantastic read. Their childhood, the struggles they faced in their personal life and how they overcame them to emerge as icons can be a matter of awe. The beautiful Savitri made a lasting impression in south Indian cinema. However, in her short life, she provided enough fodder for her biographers who, with their sources, have etched a graph that rose, reached the zenith and plummeted irrevocably.

The Telugu biopic ‘Mahanati’, which chronicles the rise, stardom, and tragic downfall of Savitri, is a film I found most engrossing. Likewise, the Hindi biopic ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’, is a biographical drama following Gunjan Saxena, one of India’s first female combat aviators, who overcame systemic gender bias to fly helicopters in the 1999 Kargil War. A most inspiring depiction of the life of an ambitious and daring young lady who defied established social and professional traditions and proved the point that women can do anything that men can, and even better. As was the Hindi movie ‘83’, which recorded India’s historic World Cup triumph in 1983.

‘M.S. Dhoni The Untold Story’ is another Hindi biopic of a great sportsperson, covering Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s journey from a railway ticket collector to trophy collector, including the World Cup. It held a special appeal for me as a former President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). Belonging to a similar genre is ‘Shaabash Maithili’, that traces the remarkable career of former captain of Indian women’s cricket team, Mithali Raj, which also I found equally absorbing.

The book ‘Trekking Over Pebbles: Life Through a Hyderabadi’s Looking Glass’ authored by me has been reviewed “….. as a reflective memoir offering insights into life, management, and personal experiences from a seasoned Hyderabadi perspective…..” and described as a personal narrative capturing unique life moments, “…..as a book that blends personal memories with professional reflections, providing a unique vantage point on various challenges, often metaphorically referred to as “pebbles” in life’s journey….” Characterized as “a reflective look at life’s challenges and experiences” it, has been recommended to readers for its in depth understanding of the perspective of a senior civil servant.

Service in the IAS offers the opportunity to work in a variety of assignments. It is, however, generally accepted that working as the Collector of a district, the Chief Secretary of a state government and as a secretary to the government of India are regarded as positions occupying which offer a sense of completeness, satisfaction and fulfilment in a civil servant’s career. The reviewer notes that the author had worked in all those three positions, appreciating the author’s belief that a sense of humour is the best stress buster, being evident in his approach.

It also notes that the book offers a comprehensive bird’s eye view of the author’s life and times, from his birth as a premature child through his experiences as a civil servant till after his superannuation. It is appreciative of the description of the author’s ability to handle unruly crowds during agitations, adjust with different styles of functioning with many chief ministers and central ministers, persuade peers and superiors to choose the best way of approaching issues and handle with tact and sound judgement, sensitive crisis situations.

The reviewer also highlights the sharp manner in which the principle; namely that those in high positions should guide and direct those at the grass roots level, should learn to implement sincerely and efficiently, is brought out in the narrative; it notes the value of some of the author’s perceptions such as describing the manner of the administration in the states as ‘office-driven’ and that at the national level as ‘officer-driven’, and the view offered, that while corrupt people are easy to identify, what constitutes an honest and principled civil servant is difficult to define.

The reviewer recommends the book to readers saying that while it entertains, it is also a sound guide for administrators to understand the way the system functions.

If I was able to pen ‘Mohana Makarandam’, it was entirely on account of the genius of my friend, noted writer and well-known journalist M B S Prasad. As we began the exercise, he taunted me, asking what was so special about my life. All people, after all, he said, have favourite singers, have played games well at certain levels and passed certain examinations, all things which they can brag about. Or about having had meetings with famous people and been to exotic places all over the world. What then, he pressed me, was so special in my case?

And thus began the process of his drawing out of the innermost recesses of my mind and heart things which I never knew about myself and acts I never remembered having done. It is then that I realised that a person’s achievements and failures are best described in a biography rather than in an autobiography.

But truth to tell, the book proved to be popular with readers more because of the somewhat exaggerated accounts so skillfully narrated by Prasad, rather than on account of my own accomplishments!

(The writer was formerly Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh)