New Delhi, July 5 -- On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay of the foundation stone for a 125-foot statue of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at Eco Park in Kolkata during his visit to the city on the Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder's 125th birth anniversary. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh is the ideological predecessor of the BJP. And on the same day, Bengali director duo Suchandra X Vaaniya and Chaandroday Pal have decided to announce their new film, 'Shyama'. Inspired by the life, ideals and sacrifice of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the film is set against the turbulent years of 1945-1953 and explores an era shaped by Partition, the struggle for national unity, the future of Bengal and the making of a new India.

According to the director duo, the title of the film carries a powerful dual meaning. It is drawn from the life of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder, while also symbolising Mother India, the spirit of a nation, its courage and its eternal call.

"After collaborating with Suchandra X Vaaniya on 'Surponakhar Agomon' as her associate and co-directing 'Poroborti Station Begunkodar' together, 'Shyama' feels like a natural evolution of our creative journey. This film is not just about revisiting history; it is about understanding the ideals, sacrifices and choices that continue to shape our present," said Pal.

Meanwhile, Vaaniya believes today's generation needs to know Dr Mookerjee not merely as a political figure, but as someone who played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of Bengal. "Whether one agrees with his politics or not, I believe his life, his convictions and his sacrifices deserve to be understood and discussed," she said.

Interestingly, BJP's Rajarhat-Gopalpur MLA and lawyer Tarunjyoti Tewari are also part of Shyama. "I'm a part of Shyama because history must speak the language of today's generation. If we don't know our past, we risk losing our future. This film tells an inspiring story in a way Gen Z and Gen Alpha can truly connect with and that's exactly why it matters," the newly elected BJP MLA said.

The directors are yet to decide on the final casting of the film but informed that soon 'Shyama' will go on floors. The state government had already declared a public holiday on July 6 to honour Mookerjee and his legacy.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.