A new film on Mahatma Gandhi, focusing on his strained relationship with his eldest son, has drawn protests from Gandhians in Bihar.

Gandhians have urged President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to stop the release of "Gandhi My Father" as it is based on the controversial aspects of the life of the father of the nation.

The film, directed by veteran theatre personality Feroz Abbas Khan and scheduled for release on Aug 3, explores the Mahatma's strained relationship with his eldest son, Harilal, who embraced Islam.

Razi Ahmad, 70, a Gandhian, has written to the president, PM and the information and broadcasting minister, seeking their intervention to stop the film's release. "We strongly feel that the film should not be released," Ahmad said on behalf of Gandhians.

He said the Gandhians are against the release of the film as it portrays Mahatma Gandhi in bad light.

"The name of Mahatma Gandhi or that of any other national leader should not be used for commercial purposes. It is against the law of the land," Ahmad, who is also the secretary of Patna's Gandhi Sangrahalay, said here Monday.

"We are of the view that any attempt to tarnish the image of national heroes should not be permitted," he said.

Ahmad said the film exploits the controversial aspects of his life, particularly his "troubled" relationship with his eldest son.

The film narrates incidents from Gandhiji's life between 1906 and 1948 and uses the then socio-political structure as its backdrop.

The film, the first independent production of Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, has been shot in Hindi and English over a period of 100 days.