A kid who shot movies with an 8mm camera in his childhood, a prodigy then, has evolved to be one of the world's most popular directors of all time; a prodigy now. We are talking about none other than the legendary film director and producer Steven Spielberg. Steven Spielberg has visited India along with his wife after an invitation from Anil Ambani, the owner of Reliance Entertainment. The party thrown by Ambani was in fact a celebration of the Oscar won by Lincoln, co-produced by Reliance Entertainment.

During his visit to India, Spielberg has voiced his mind that he desired to make a movie based with Indo-Pak border being the theme. Why would a westerner, Spielberg at that, who has no association with India except a few scnes from his old films like Indiana Jones, want to deal with such a sensitive issue? What could have kindled the urge to make a movie like that?

There is a deeper motive than you can see on the surface of this desire. It dates back to his father, who was a part of the World War II. Arnold Spielberg was the technical sergeant of the 490th Bombardment Squadron, or fondly known to the world as the Burma Bridge Busters during WWII. Being based in Karachi and Arnold would often visit Bombay and Calcutta, now Mumbai and Kolkata, for the sake of respite from the stress. He also captured the beauty of these cities in the bazaars, streets and the way of life.

Spielberg who rummaged through all his father's stuff recently found out the undeveloped films during these trips. Immediately he took the 400 or so negatives to a lab and got them developed into 8x10 pictures. He learned how his father spent time in Karachi, Bombay, Calcutta and other cities during WWII.  Excited like a child with candy, Spielberg said, "Beautiful shots of elephants and cows and people and bazaars ! Just the day-to-day lifestyle of India was so vivid.".

Probably this sparked his memories of India from his shootings for 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' , released in 1977, as well as 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' , in 1984. He decided to join hands with Reliance entertainment for a script he already has in mind based on Indo-Pak borders. Whether he would direct it or not is not known yet and so is the cast. But he will try to bring out his emotion in the movie connecting through his father to India and Pakistan with this film.

(AW- Anil )