Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: In a remarkable and unexpected move that blends politics, faith, and cinema, Goa’s senior cabinet minister Mauvin Godinho, a prominent Christian leader and seven-time MLA from Dabolim, is making headlines for his decision to produce a feature film based on one of India’s most iconic and sensitive legal and spiritual sagas — the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
The upcoming film, titled Ayodhya: The Final Argument, will explore the complex and emotionally charged journey of the Ayodhya dispute, from its historical roots and religious dimensions to the decades-long legal battle that culminated in the 2019 Supreme Court verdict. The judgment ultimately led to the construction of the grand Ram Mandir, where the idol of Lord Ram was consecrated on January 22, 2024.
According to sources close to the minister, the idea for the film had been taking shape over the past three years, during which Godinho and a research team quietly studied over 6,700 pages of court documents, as well as 42 scholarly and historical books related to the dispute. The film, currently in the early stages of development, is intended to bring to the screen not just a legal narrative but a layered story of faith, identity, and civilisational continuity.
Minister Godinho, known for his administrative acumen and political experience under six different chief ministers in Goa, is currently in talks with major Bollywood producers, directors, and actors to collaborate on the project. “This will not be a typical documentary or courtroom drama,” a source close to the project said. “It will be a deeply cinematic retelling of a story that shaped the soul of India, told with sensitivity, research, and cinematic integrity.”
What makes the project particularly unique is the fact that it is being spearheaded by a Christian political leader, reflecting a rare gesture of cross-faith engagement in a subject that has largely been associated with the Hindu religious movement. “Minister Godinho believes this is not just a Hindu story, but a national story — one that resonates with ideas of justice, heritage, and the rule of law,” the source added.
Ayodhya: The Final Argument will also present verified evidence, testimonies, and legal arguments that played a crucial role in the Supreme Court’s decision, aiming to educate the public about the decades-long litigation process that involved archaeological surveys, historical documents, and testimonies from both sides.
The film’s title itself — The Final Argument — is symbolic of the culmination of centuries of conflict, debate, and belief. It seeks to highlight not just a verdict, but a moment of closure and beginning — when the court, after years of hearings and deliberation, unanimously ruled in favour of the temple, calling it a matter of legal right rather than religious dominance.
The film will chronicle the 500-year-long history of the site, widely believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, and the events that followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 — including the long period during which the deity Ram Lalla was placed in a tent. The Bhoomi Pujan of the temple took place on August 5, 2020, and the idol was finally enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple in January 2024, marking the end of a spiritual wait for millions.
Godinho’s decision to step into filmmaking also marks a rare crossover between governance and creative storytelling. “This isn’t about political mileage or religious symbolism,” the minister reportedly told close associates. “It’s about telling an important Indian story with dignity and balance.”
If all goes as planned, the film could begin production in 2026 and be released in theatres across India. It has the potential to become one of the most-discussed cinematic projects in recent years, given its subject matter and the unusual profile of its producer.
Ayodhya: The Final Argument could well mark a new chapter in Indian cinema — where politics, history, and faith meet the lens of storytelling, and where a national leader uses film to capture the soul of a centuries-old journey.
