Mumbai: About Films has acquired the rights to develop a feature film inspired by the life and legacy of Prof. E. Balagurusamy, the educator whose programming and engineering textbooks played a pivotal role in shaping India’s technology talent pool and empowering generations of students.
Currently in development, the film will chronicle the journey of one of India’s most influential academic voices, whose teachings reached millions of aspiring engineers and software professionals during a transformative period in the country’s growth.
Positioned as a cinematic tribute to an educator who helped democratise access to technical knowledge, the film will explore how Prof. Balagurusamy’s work became a cornerstone of engineering and programming education across India. Long before coding emerged as a mainstream career path, his books found their way into classrooms, libraries, hostels and homes, helping students from diverse backgrounds gain access to opportunities in technology and engineering.
The makers believe the story reflects a broader narrative of aspiration and social mobility that contributed to India’s emergence as a global technology powerhouse. As the country’s technology sector expanded, millions of professionals built careers that transformed not only their own lives but also the fortunes of countless middle-class families.
Commenting on the project, Abhishek Dhandharia, Producer, said, “This is not just a story about coding or classrooms. It is the story of millions of Indian families who believed education could change their children’s future. Prof. Balagurusamy became part of that journey for an entire generation. We want to create a powerful theatrical experience that families can watch together — a film that inspires young audiences while making parents feel proud, emotional and hopeful.”
The film is being developed as a large-scale theatrical experience centred on emotion, aspiration and India’s socio-economic transformation, rather than as a conventional educational or biographical drama.
The screenplay is being written by Sameer Mishra, creator and writer of Physics Wallah and writer of Criminal Justice: A Family Matter. The project brings together a creative team with strong connections to India’s engineering ecosystem and academic culture. Both Dhandharia and Mishra come from premier engineering institutions, with roots in IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay respectively, providing them with a personal understanding of the aspirations that have driven generations of engineering students.
Currently in the research and screenplay development phase, the project is also in discussions with creative collaborators and talent. The makers say the film aims to celebrate not only the life of an educator but also the dreams, perseverance and ambition of a generation that helped shape modern India through education and opportunity.
Further details regarding the film’s title, cast, director and production timeline are expected to be announced in the coming months.
