NEW DELHI: A feature film is to be produced on the freedom struggle centered round the character of legendary freedom fighter Tatya Tope by the government in collaboration with eminent filmmaker Firoze Nadiadwala.

To be named Tatya, the film will be produced at a cost of Rs. 500 million with 50:50 contribution from the Government and the private film production house.

Announcing this, Information and Broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said the film will be directed by Vinay Shukla and is expected to be ready by next Indepdendence Day( 15 August, 2008).

Earlier, the minister released the official wall as well as desk calendar for the year 2008 brought out by Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity. The six sheeter wall calendar titled “India @ 60” is a pictorial depiction of the nation’s progress in the last 60 years. The desk calendar commemorates 150 years of the first war of independence and the country’s freedom struggle. The 12-sheeter desk calendar is a tribute to national heroes of India’s freedom struggle.

The minister also released the annual reference book “India-2008” and “Bharat-2008” in English and Hindi respectively, brought out by the Publications Division. The minister said these publications were popular and sought after even by the private sector.

This is the 52nd edition of the Reference Annual providing comprehensive and authentic information on varied activities, and achievements of various government departments.

India-2008 and Bharat-2008 have been uploaded on the Division's official website www.publicationsdivision.nic.in and are available online, free of cost.

Publications Division is among the largest publishing houses in India having published around 8000 titles so far in English, Hindi and other regional languages.

I&B secretary Asha Swarup, DAVP Director-General U. K. Mishra and Publications Division Additional Director-General Veena Jain also spoke on the occasion.