Source: http://www.screenindia.com/20010323/tclos.htm

Tele Film on Sai Baba

A film unit from U.K. had come to Calcutta headed by filmmaker Rathin Roy for the shooting of the tele film Sai Ram Sai Baba under the banner RB Promotions (UK). Says Roy, “The objective of coming to India was to authenticate and enhance the quality of production.”

With this in mind the team went to Puttaparthi (Bangalore) - Sai Baba’s ashram on December 12, 2000. Mysore, Bhubaneshwar, Konarak, Puri were also included in the location shooting. And, in West Bengal, shooting took place at Mayapur, Joka and various other sites in Calcutta.

“The purpose of making this film is to create awareness, amongst the younger generation living abroad, about our culture and religious tradition,” states Rathin Roy, the director. Two years ago the same company launched a production in U.K. entitled Sri Ram Bhajo. It was highly appreciated by the Indian community abroad and was telecast by Zee T.V., U.K. on April 12, 2000 on the occasion of Ram Navami day.

Others involved in this production are Gopa Bose, a reputed singer. The cinematography is by Sipra Roy and the choreography is by Roshni Bose. The tele film Sai Ram Sai Baba incorporates classical dances ranging from Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odissi and also modern folk dances. All these have been performed by young promising talents in UK and India.

Within the framework of a thin story line, the screenplay is based on music, dances and devotional songs which have been sung melodiously by Gopa Bose who is based in U.K. and the disciple of Nirmalendu Chowdhury. All the songs and music have been recorded in Calcutta. About the story line, the U.K. based Bengali director Rathin Roy says, “The storyline as such will project why the disciples of Sai Baba love him so much and look upto the code of living as directed by the Baba himself. It is also a pointer to truth, love, non violence, peace and goodwill.”

The telefilm is of 60 minute duration. As the shooting gets completed, the editing will be done in London. It is expected to be launched in May this year and telecast on Zee TV Internationally on the occasion of Sai Baba’s birthday on November 23, 2001. The casting will comprise new faces from all over India and U.K. as it’s a bilingual in English and Hindi.

The film-maker Rathin Roy is a Bengali educated in Calcutta. He went to U.K. in 1961 and since then is settled there. He has made several tele video productions and among these are Shrimad Bhagvatam, Devi Bhagvat, Shri Ramcharit Manas, Satyanarayan Puja Ane Katha, Shri Ram Bhajo et al. Roy, a photographer and film-maker by profession is an associate of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. He also has another production company under the banner of R.N. Roy productions in England.

AMIT MUKERJEA