Think of Subhash Ghai and the immediate thought that comes to mind is of a filmmaker known for films abounding in song, dance and melodrama replete with all the cultural milieu of India's.

So,it comes as a surprise when the maker of such larger-than-life films like ‘Karz', ‘Ram Lakhan' and ‘Saudagar', lends his support to a film based on the real-life story of a deaf-mute boy's rise from obscurity to achieve his dream of becoming a part of the country's Men in Blue.

For Ghai, however, lending his backing as producer for a film like ‘Iqbal' and, earlier, ‘Jogger's Park', is a part of his endeavour to promote different kinds of cinema.

‘'As a student of cinema (Subhash Ghai is a product of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India) I have always appreciated the kinds of films being made by other filmmakers, be it realistic filmmakers lke Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani or a filmmaker like the late Raj Kapoor. In this context, it is my desire to promote different kinds of films that are being made today by new and upcoming filmmakers. Iqbal is an attempt in this direction,'' the veteran filmmaker said after a screening of the film, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, here last evening.

Slated for release on August 26, ‘Iqbal' has been produced by Ghai under the banner of Mukta Searchlight films, a new banner set up by him to promote multiplex films by new and upcoming filmmakers.

‘'It is with the aim to encourage different kinds of films that we last month, set up Mukta Searchlight films, a banner which seeks to provide a platform for new and upcoming films wanting to make films according to their own sensibilities without the pressure of the market forces. The endeavour of Mukta Searchlights will be to produce more and more low budget films targetted at a niche audience. Unlike Mukta Arts, Mukta Searchlight films will not make a ''typical Subhash Ghai film,'' he said.

''Infact, we have earlier too been making such films like 'Rahul' and 'Joggers Park'. 'Iqbal' is an extension of that process.

Under the new banner we hope to produce three to four low budget quality films every year'', Ghai added.

Written and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, ‘Iqbal', consisting of an ensemble cast of Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad, Shweta Prasad, Yatin Karyekar, Prateeksha Londkar and Shreyas Talpade in the title role, is about a deaf and mute boy Iqbal's long and tortuous struggle to achieve his ultimate goal of being a part of the Indian cricket team.