'Ramkhilavaan' to return to Sab TV

It's been a long two years for Ashwini Dheer. In September 2002, a mere month after his political comedy Ramkhilavaan CM n Family premiered on Sabe TV, the show was pulled off following a Patna court order.

The petition against the screening of the show had complained that the show was defamatory to Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav and their family. While Dheer stuck to his guns, claiming that the protagonist's hair style was the only thing that bore a similarity to Yadav, the court order put paid to his creative instincts and the show had to be taken off.

Over two years later, the Patna high court this week lifted the stay and allowed its telecast. Exultant channel officials are determined to see that the serial comes back on screen, although it may take some time. "We just launched some new shows. Giving 'Ramkhilavaan' back will take some time," they say.

Dheer himself is keen on setting the show rolling once again. Of course, Sushmita Mukherjee who plays CM Imarti Devi and Vineet Kumar who plays her husband will have to make adjustments in their various shooting schedules to make time for Ramkhilavaan.

The serial revolves around a self-serving chief minister who has mastered the art of manipulating democracy for personal gain. In his nefarious projects, he is abetted by his scheming wife Imarti and daughters Rajneeti, Party, Ghotali and Sarkar, named after important political junctures of their father.

When the serial launched in 2002, Dheer had told the media,"Basically we wanted to make a political satire. It's sheer coincidence that the characters are similar to his (Yadav's) family members."

As if anticipating the controversy the serial would rake up after its airing, Dheer had erupted, "Just because the hairstyle of Ramkhilavaan and Lalooji is similar, one shouldn't jump to conclusions that the character is inspired by Laloo. Tomorrow, if I show a politician with a French beard, you will say the character is inspired by IK Gujral."

We are now waiting to see the path Ramkhilavaan treads now.