The director of Tera Kya Hoga Johnny roots for the imprisoned human rights activist, plans to make a film on him

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, who has been working on a film on Dr Binayak Sen's life, is shocked to hear of the activist's life- imprisonment on sedition charges.

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra; (inset) Dr Binayak Sen Mishra, who has studied Sen's life closely, says, "What's the definition of sedition? I don't understand it. I met Sen when I was a young man. When he was out on bail, I met him again.

He is a warm, gentle soul, not given to rhetoric at all. He's an army officer's son, for God's sake! Binayak is my best friend's elder brother. I was told to be like Binayakda. He's a brilliant paediatrician. He could have stayed in Mumbai and made millions as a doctor. Instead, he chose to listen to Gandhiji and went to the villages. Is this what he gets for his idealism?"

Sudhir is hopeful that justice will prevail. "The National Advisory Council to Sonia Gandhi says that this is not right. They say the evidence against Binayak Sen is very scant." As for Mishra, he is glad there have been protests against the verdict. "At least, the voice of dissent is alive in India. A lot of people believe Binayakda is not guilty as charged. I believe them, " he says.

Mishra feels one can arrive at a consensus on how to deal with the 'Other India' using the debate around Dr Sen's arrest as an opportunity.

"Look at Oliver Stone in America. His film JFK can be perceived as a seditious act too. Stone feels the official point of view needs a counter-view. And he represents that view. He says, 'Here's my point of view. Listen to it.' That's true democracy."

Mishra hastens to add though that he has no empathy for or patience with Naxalism. He does have a solution, though. "The way out is to have a dialogue with people like Binayakda.

Since a person like him understands those areas where Naxalism exists, he'd be the right person to find a solution. It's like Nitish Kumar in Bihar. The moment people saw him to be sincere, caste ceased to matter and they voted for him."

Mishra feels Sen's matter should now go to the Supreme Court (SC). "The Supreme Court of India has shown great vision and impartiality in the past. All of us who want to protest about Binayakda's sentencing should express our dissent through the SC."

Now, he is keener than ever to make the film on Sen's life. "I wanted to make a film on what gives birth to a figure like him. But no one will fund it."