Director Manish Jha is ready with his film 'Anwar'. The film stars Manisha Koirala's brother, Siddharth Koirala and Nauheed Cyrusi. The film is a love story between a Muslim boy and a girl, set against the backdrop of communal violence.

'ANWAR' as the films title spells out is the story of a Muslim youth who leaves home in search of the unknown, but fate has something else in store as he gets mistaken for a terrorist, when he takes shelter at a temple.

It is a story that tells his journey and a story that talks about his life before the incident took place, where he loses the women he loved.

So what made the director choose a subject like this, considering the fact that such films have always raked up controversies in the past?

Director Manish Jha says, " One thing i was sure of was that i wanted to make a love story. It took a while before i decided upon the backdrop for the love story".

Manish Jha adds, "I have based the love story on the central theme of how Muslims are perceived in this country, which i think is a very relevant and contemporary issue. The issue may not seem to be very entertaining but i wanted it to reach out to maximum people".

Filmaker Mahesh Bhatt whose films have mostly dealt with sensitive issues also seemed in favour of educating the audience with film like these.

/photo.cms?msid=491905 Mahesh Bhatt says that, "We shouldn’t be phobic about the word controversy. A controversy raises the hidden dialogue that goes on in the society. I feel one should bring out what is in the subterranean region out in to the open. 'Anwar' confronts the issue of Islamophobia which is spreading like wild fire post 9/11"

After a long span of time actor Manisha Koirala will also be seen in the film and she seems quite excited about it.

"I'm playing /photo.cms?msid=491482 a journalist's role, she is a bit disturbed in her personal life like all the characters in the film who have something or the other which is not going well in their lives", says Manisha Koirala.

However it is going to be a gamble for the makers, firstly as the subject can raise a few eyebrows and secondly the lead actors involved have no hit to their credit till date.

source:Timesnow