Sala Budha, meaning stupid old man in Odia, assumes a new meaning with Sabyasachi Mohapatra’s latest film by the same name. Contrary to urban Odisha, Sala Budha is an affectionate term used in western Orissa, the backdrop in which the film has been set, for a person who is elderly and has a lot to give to the younger generation in terms of living life, values and ethics. Slotted for the classes and festival circuits, the period film is based on a 100-year-old story depicting life in rural India. Capturing the quintessential elements of rural landscape in all its simplicity and rustic nature, the one-hour film in black and white is the filmmaker’s tribute to the old people of the world.
“Sala Budha is a poetic story of faith set in an Odisha village during the pre-Independence era. Agriculture being the main occupation, nature, especially rains, play a momentous role in their lives. Like every year, villagers pray for good rains but the imminent drought and their anxious wait for the clouds form the backdrop of Sala Budha. Despite adverse economic conditions, the village chief does not lose hope. It is this grand old man who keeps the folks motivated and engaged for a bright future. He is the hero of the circumstances,” explains Mohapatra, who visualised the film some years ago. “I have intentionally made it in black and white to give it a period feel.’’
Capturing the rich tribal ethos of the Sambalpur region of Odisha that includes music, dance and ethnicity, the film, based on the novel Sala Budha written by Kapileswar Prasad Mohapatra, is a reflection of the daily life of people in western Odisha.
‘’This film is a tribute to senior citizens on the occasion of Indian cinema celebrating its 100 years. I think India’s future rests on the strength and faith of people like my hero in Sala Budha,’’ says Mohapatra, adding, ‘’Instead of looking at elderly people as liability by the younger ones, I think they are great resource for leading the society. One in every five persons will be over 65 by 2035. It is not just the traditional values but the older generation could also be the lighthouse for posterity.”
The film took the director, who has been very successful both in commercial and parallel cinema, just 30 days to shoot the film. The post-shoot at Mumbai took almost six months since Mohapatra was keen on making the film as close to reality as possible and wanted the best of people to be involved in the project. “I had Anup Dey for sound mixing since sound plays a vital role in the movie,” says the director. The film has been shot in sync sound and it took Mohapatra six months to create the set that needed to resemble a 100-year-old Odishan village. “I did a lot of research through books to get the desired effect. Even getting the costumes and ornaments for the actors became herculean. Getting the apt protagonist and other actors was also a matter of chance because my ‘Sala Budha’ is in actuality 82 years old and he does justice to the role.”
Music is an integral part of the film, haunting even after hours of the film getting over. It grows on with time and takes one back to the days of yore. “I had to rope in Ghasiram Mishra and Pankaj Jal, exponents in the music of western Odisha. We even organised workshops to get music that can be true to the era.”
Shot in a village in Sonepur, the film has made quite an impact at the screenings made in various parts of the state. “I have got good response at places where the film has been screened,” says the Mumbai-based director who keeps shuttling between Odisha and Mumbai for various projects. Mohapatra’s Bhookha (1988), his first brush with middle-order cinema, had stirred the western belt in the state. The Koshali language film on folk drummers, who suffered at the hands of the onslaught of westernised band parties, had bagged many national and international awards. “I expect the same response, or even better, from Sala Budha but I have to wait for some time since the festival entries haven’t been opened yet. Come March and Sala Budha will be pitched at the right fora to get noticed,” says a confident Mohapatra.
