The makers of India's Oscar entry Rang De Basanti have come in for some harsh words from activist Kavita Gadgil, who has criticised director Rakesyh Mehra for ignoring his promise to help her with her pet project-a memorial for martyr pilots.

"He (Mehra), had come to me when he was making the film and I had helped him with many details, but when the time came to help me by organising a charity screening, they turned their backs. Now they should contribute something to the memorial I am building in honour of my son," Gadgil said.

Gadgil's son Abhijit, a pilot in the Indian Air Force was killed in a MiG 21 accident in 2001 and since then she started a movement called the Abhijit Air Safety Foundation. The Foundation is now in the process of building the Jeet Aerospace Institute, which has been conceived as a memorial to Indian martyr pilots.

"He (Mehra) keeps saying that he has made the film as a tribute to all those pilots who have given up their lives. But what has he actually done?

They had promised me that they would organise a charity screening before the movie released in January, but nothing came of it. And now they are even refusing to help the foundation directly," Gadgil said.

A spokesperson for UTV, which produced the film, refused to comment on the issue and messages sent to Mehra were not returned.

"I have read that Mehra has approached the chiefs of all three forces to speak on 'RDB' in a documentary so that it will increase the film's chances at the Oscar's. If he can do that why can he not approach me," she added.

Rang De Basanti is the story of how a pilot's family and friends strive to clear his name after his death in a MiG crash is attributed to the pilot's negligence.