Unni Mukundan as Narendra Modi in Biopic Maa Vande

New Delhi, September 17: Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan has agreed to take on a role that could change the course of his career for better or worse. He’s set to play Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Maa Vande, a biopic announced today that promises to track Modi’s life from childhood to the prime minister’s office. The news has already drawn attention not just from film buffs but from political observers, who know well that putting Modi on screen is never just about cinema.

The Casting Gamble

Mukundan is an interesting choice. He isn’t a household name outside Kerala, though in his home industry he’s carved out space as a physically commanding performer, known for his intensity and commitment. Taking on Modi means stepping into a part that demands more than muscle it requires capturing a man who divides public opinion like few others in modern India.

The decision not to cast a Hindi film star is telling. It suggests the producers wanted someone without too much political baggage, someone who could be moulded into the role. Mukundan brings that clean slate, though whether audiences will buy him as Modi is a question only the screen can answer.

A Heavyweight Crew

If the casting raised eyebrows, the technical crew has shut down doubts about ambition. Kranthi Kumar CH directs, but behind him is a line-up that screams spectacle. KK Senthil Kumar, who shot Baahubali, will handle visuals. Ravi Basrur, the composer behind KGF, takes charge of music. Editing is with Sreekar Prasad, who has cut more films than most directors have made. Production design goes to Sabu Cyril, and King Solomon will stage large-scale action.

This isn’t the template of a small, reverent biopic. It’s the blueprint of a pan-Indian blockbuster something designed to travel across languages and states, with Modi’s story as the hook.

Not Modi’s First Biopic

This won’t be the first time Modi has been put on film. In 2019, actor Vivek Oberoi starred in a Hindi biopic that released right in the middle of the Lok Sabha campaign. That movie was panned as political theatre, praised only by those already convinced. Still, it showed the hunger or the political need to mythologise Modi through cinema.

Maa Vande arrives in a different moment. Modi is now more entrenched, more polarising, and every creative choice will be examined. Will the film acknowledge the darker chapters Gujarat 2002, demonetisation, Kashmir or will it glide past them? That decision will define whether it’s remembered as serious cinema or campaign material in another form.

Politics Never Far Behind

In India, films about politicians rarely stop at entertainment. They bleed into the public mood. NTR in Andhra Pradesh, Thackeray in Maharashtra both became part of political storytelling, tools as much as films. Modi’s story sits in that same tradition. Neutrality is impossible.

Which means Maa Vande will not just be judged on its craft. It will be pulled apart for what it chooses to show and what it leaves out. For supporters, it may serve as inspiration. For critics, it may look like propaganda. Either way, it will fuel conversation beyond the box office.

The Stakes For Mukundan

For Unni Mukundan, the risks are stark. If he manages to convince audiences, he could break out of regional stardom and step into the national spotlight. If not, he risks being typecast, or worse, dismissed. Playing a sitting Prime Minister is a different beast from playing a fictional hero. The scrutiny will be relentless.

Those close to Mukundan say he is already preparing with unusual seriousness, studying Modi’s voice and movements. Whether that preparation translates into credibility on screen is the question hanging over this project.

What Lies Ahead

The film is expected to go on floors later this year. A multilingual release in 2026 is likely, though no date has been set. Given India’s political calendar, whenever it lands, it won’t feel accidental.

For now, all eyes are on how the makers handle the material and whether Unni Mukundan can shoulder the role of a man who continues to shape India’s story in real time.

Stay ahead with Hindustan Herald — bringing you trusted news, sharp analysis, and stories that matter across Politics, Business, Technology, Sports, Entertainment, Lifestyle, and more.
Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, and join our Telegram community @hindustanherald for real-time updates.

Ayesha Khan

Entertainment Correspondent – Ayesha@hindustanherald.in – Web

Covers films, television, streaming, and celebrity culture with a focus on storytelling trends.

Breaking