Baba's glory on TV
M.L. NARASIMHAM
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Big and small screen stars come together to act in a serial on Shiridi Sai Baba.
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SERIAL FORMAT Director Bhaskar brings the story of Shirdi Sai Baba on tele with `Shirdi Jai Sairam'.
"For the purpose of trade and money, we cross the vast oceans and explore the air, but for the purpose of truth we make no effort. We want the teachers to come to our door and solve our doubts for us. We have no time or desire to learn and practice our dharma." Perhaps keeping in mind this wise saying, cinematographer turned director Bhaskar is bringing the story of Shirdi Sai Baba in a serial format, titled, Shirdi Jai Sairam. The serial is directed by Raghu. A huge set, a replica of Shirdi village has been created by art director Thotta Tharani at a sprawling seven acre plot in Ramapuram, a suburb of Chennai. The unit returned to Chennai after shooting a few scenes at Shirdi and Tenali. Spotted at the venue are senior actors Suman, Manorama, `Suthi' Velu, Vinod and television stars Rajkumar, Vijay Babu, Veladhi Raghukumar, Vijaya Kutty, Tanguturi Ramakrishna and new comer Srinivas Reddy who plays the role of Saibaba. The hungama on location looked more like a big budget movie mela than work for a television serial. "Rs. 50lakh went into this set alone. A friend mooted the idea (of the serial) but backed out. Ardent devotees of Shiridi Sai Baba my family decided to take up the mission. Miracles do happen. I never imagined that so many stalwarts volunteer to act in the serial and so are the major technicians including Thotta Tharani and senior makeup artiste Munduri Satyam," says Bhaskar.
It was by a chance meeting with the serial's screenplay writer Nanduri Vijay, that Srinivas an aspiring actor from Vijayawada bagged the Baba role.
"I saw the advertisement in a newspaper. But I did not apply. I didn't even know Vijay with whom I worked for a serial earlier is connected with it till I met him one day. He said why not you give a try. Satyam sir did the make up test and the next moment I was standing before the camera playing the role. It was a God-sent opportunity," says Srinivas. Manorama plays the role of the woman who first spots the greatness of Baba. Suman essays Chand Bhai who discovers the miracle power of Saibaba. "Chand Bhai was not clearly established in films or serials on Saibaba, whereas the character is fully established in this serial as per the original story. I believe lot of research has gone into the script before the launch as it is evident now that care is taken in minute detail," opines Suman. "It is a team work," says the young director still dazed that he is heading such a huge project. "It is like a dream come true," Raghu smiles.
After completing the present schedule, the unit moves to Nasik and Triambakeswar to shoot a few pivotal scenes.
Rajkumar is cast as Nanavali, Velu as Mahalsapathi, Tanguturi Ramakrsihna as Kathya Patel, Vijaya Kutty as Bayaji Bai, Vijay Babu as Shama, Sanjeevi as Dasaganawho propagates Sai Charitra while Vinod acts as the villain turned devotee. The other major actors are Bhanuchander, `Subhalekha' Sudhakar, late Omkar, Satya Priya and Lakshmi Priya. Music is composed by singer Murali and Madhu Panchali. The weekly serial will be telecast shortly on Sundays on Gemini TV.
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