MUMBAI: A spy thriller based on former RAW officer RK Yadav's book, Mission R&AW, is currently in the works. The series will focus on Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founder of RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), India's foreign intelligence agency and its role in solving India's disputes with foreign nations.

Speaking on his book, RK Yadav said, "My book gives an insight into the professional acumen of Mr Kao and how RAW came into inception. Besides his many achievements, Kao was also monitoring China during the 1962 war when he was working as then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's PS (personal security chief)."

Yadav further added that apart from providing a detailed account of the little-known journey of Kao, his book also chronicles the 1962 war with China and the intelligence-gathering techniques adopted by RAW.

"Kao told me that in November 1962, the US had proposed to Jawaharlal Nehru a nuclear action against China, if the conflict escalated. Thereafter Nehru rejected the Chinese proposal of a summit with them and demanded Chinese withdrawal beyond LAC which China had to concede to. The disintegration of Pakistan in 1971 was a joint strategy of Kao and late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw," added Kao.

The yet-to-be-titled series will be bankrolled by Bohra Bros, who have produced over 36 movies including Shahid and Gangs of Wasseypur.

Sunil Bohra of Bohra Bros revealed that his team has been working on the series for the last two years and it is one of the most challenging projects of his life. “To document the story of RN Kao is by far my life’s most challenging and important project. Our team has been working on this project for the past two years. The book authored by Mr Yadav gives an elaborate account of the founder and India’s foremost intelligence agency," he said.

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Bohra felt turning the book into a film wouldn't have done justice to RN Kao's story. "Having perused the details, we realised that it would be unfair to encapsulate the astounding story of Kao in merely two hours. Hence, we have decided to make a web series so that justice can be done to the man who we, and our generations to come, all should be proud of," he added.

A team of experts has been roped in, who'll work on the series, which will be shot in India, China, Bangladesh, and the US.

Things to expect from the series

The espionage thriller will feature many real-life incidents, which includes the infamous sabotage of Kashmir Princess, a chartered aircraft owned by Air India in 1955. It was on its way to Indonesia from India and was damaged mid-air by a bomb explosion and crashed into the South China sea, claiming sixteen lives on board.

An investigation led by Kao had revealed that the then-Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, who missed the flight due to a medical emergency was the prime target.

The web series will feature the emergence of Indira Gandhi after the sudden death of Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent and her decision to form RAW under the aegis of RN Kao.

Another important aspect that the series will capture is the paradigm shift in the intelligence gathering by the agencies post the Sino-Indian war, the 1965 war with Pakistan and the role of R&AW in other international disputes.

This will be the first series based on Kao's contribution to the nation and RAW. However, earlier, in January 2020, Karan Johar had announced a film based on the RAW founder, which will be an adaptation of Nitin A Gokhale’s book titled R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster.

SOURCE – INDIA TODAY

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