Nov 2009

On 12th May 1968, 'Dharmakshetra', an architectural jewel, fittingly built on an elevated spot as the International Centre of the Sai family, was inaugurated in Andheri, Mumbai. This beautiful space is also intended to serve as the residence of Bhagawan and carries the name ‘Satyadeep’ (light of truth).

Bhagawan Baba was visiting mumbai after 9 long years. The news of his mumbai program came in just 12 days before the scheduled visit on the 30th Oct ‘09. The enthusiasm was at its peak. Everyone wanted to do something for the visit. Some of the senior SSS alumni hatched a plan to make a short documentary film on Bhagawan’s vision of Dharmashetra and its importance to the SSS organization. The film was to re-live that era gone-by, that once was the starting point of the Sri Sathya Sai Organization.

I had just returned from the US after finishing film school and was at parthi for a short holiday. I get a phone call from the mumbai alumni that we have 10 days, we have to make this documentary. Being a alumni myself, i gotta do it along with my photographer pal Prashanth. The next 10 days flew past accumulating archival footage, shooting interviews, b-roll, making sense of it all and building a structure to the film. About 5-6 other alumni got involved and began to help with music, scheduling, fixing interviews, etc etc.

Bhagawan arrived in mumbai on the 30th October afternoon. From then on it was one venue after the other for him till the night of Nov 1st when he retired at 11pm after granting an audience to Ratan Tata.

The following morning, on Nov 2nd the screening of this film was arranged in Satyadeep on a 60 inch plasma screen. Bhagawan emerged from his residence above at 11am. We all prayed for him to watch the film and he straight away obliged. The screening began. He was glued to the screen for the next 22 mins. Professionally, it was my first film and to see him watch the entire film with rapt attention were the happiest moments of my life. After the screening he said ‘challa baga‘(very good) and blessed all who worked on the film with namaskar, group photo and clothes.

This film gives insights into Bhagawans prophetic ideas some 45 years ago. It make all the more sense today in hindsight at the masterly effectuation of that vision.

*Satyadeep uvacha (satyadeep speaks - in sanskrit) This docu is made from the POV of Bhagawan’s residence building, satyadeep, which is also a symbol for Dharmashetra that has witnessed 42 years of the organizations evolution.