The Kannada film industry has captured the life of B.R. Ambedkar on celluloid, but now the focus has shifted to the life and times of his wife, Ramabai.
M. Ranganath is directing Ramabai , and the film is being produced by Y. Srinivas. Besides scripting and directing the film, Mr. Ranganath has also written the dialogues. While Yajna Shetty essays the role of Ramabai, Siddaram Karnik plays Dr. Ambedkar. According to Mr. Srinivas, shooting has begun and he is planning to release the film in August.
There is already an eponymous play on her in north Karnataka, based on Mr. Karnik’s research work. People say he resembles Dr. Ambedkar and identifies him with the legendary Dalit leader.
“We commenced the shooting on March 27 in Dharwad and Karwar, where Dr. Ambedkar spent time,” Mr. Srinivas said. Ramabai is said to be the second film on her, the first being one by Marathi director Prakash Jadhav in 2011.
“The film is a biopic on Ramabai, who was a major support for the architect of the Indian Constitution during the time of crisis,” said Mr. Srinivas.
She married Dr. Ambedkar in 1906 and died in 1935 after prolonged illness.
