Rajesh Sinha

New Delhi: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has beaten all other Indian politicians as the choice for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in a documentary 'India Reborn'.

Popularly referred to as “Lalu”, the Railway Minister’s unusual style, mannerisms and ready wit have made him one of most popular characters for the mass media, films included.

While many movie characters were fashioned after him, Lalu’s own earlier experience of acting in movies was playing himself in the Bollywood film 'Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav'.

Lalu is playing himself in the CBC documentary as well.

The only politician chosen by the CBC, he will be telling the story of his rise from the environs of his native Phulwaria village in Gopalganj district of Bihar, where he spent his initial years as a cowherd, to becoming the minister of railways, the largest public sector undertaking in the country.

The four-hour documentary will feature people from several walks of life including industry, information technology and agriculture,who have left an indelible impact of their personality on post-independence India.

Part of the documentary was shot on Tuesday at 10 Circular Road, the official residence of Rabri Devi, Lalu’s wife and former chief minister, who was shown drying wheat for the coming ‘Chath’ festival. Later, accepting the CBC crew’s request, Lalu boarded a train from Patna junction for a journey to Rajendra Nagar terminal, about three km away, during which he explained to them the secrets of the phenomenal turnaround in the fortunes of Indian Railways.

Lalu has a sizable fan following in Bollywood. According to actor Shatrughan Sinha,who is also a political opponent of Lalu, had he (Lalu) not been a politician he could have been an actor. Mahesh Bhatt has gone to the extent of saying that Lalu deserves to become Prime Minister. Lalu is a popular subject of jokes among comedians like Shekhar Suman, Johnny Lever and Paresh Rawal.

Different from other leaders in his background, style and communication skills, Lalu has not only been the theme of writings, including poetry, but was also used to promote a variety of products ranging from chewing tobacco to dolls. In fact, the Lalu dolls with their chubby cheeks were a serious competition to the Barbie dolls.

Many books have been written in praise of Lalu by local writers including Lalu Chalisa and Lalu Hala (especially by fellow Yadavs). There are entertainers who mimic Lalu as a profession.

Source : DNA