Abhishek, the revolutionary! |

Ashutosh Gowarikar is set for another trip back in time. From the Mughal courts in Jodhaa Akbar, the director takes a leap into the history of India’s freedom struggle against the British to make a film on the famous Chittagong (now in Bangladesh) Uprising of 1930.

Titled ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ the movie will have Abhishek Bachchan playing the uprising’s leading face, Surjya Sen, the man who spearheaded the movement against the colonialists for four long years.

The film will be based on writer Manini Chatterjee’s well-researched book ‘Do or Die’. Gowarikar has already bought the rights of the book. The movie will also star prominent actors playing the other leading figures in the uprising.

Incidentally, Gowarikar’s next film What’s Your Raashee? is also based on a book.

Who was Surjya Sen?

One of the leading revolutionary figures in pre-Independence India, Surjya Sen used to be a school teacher (that’s why he was fondly called Master-da) who became a freedom fighter in his later years. He was on the most-wanted list of the British government which offered a 50,000 pound reward for anyone who could give them information leading to his arrest. Ironically, Surjya was betrayed by a close relative of his and arrested by the British. On January 12th, 1934, Surjya Sen was hanged.