Swami invites Ramanand Sagar to shoot film in Uttaranchal

Anuradha Raman

New Delhi, May 27: Filmmaker Ramanand Sagar of Ramayan and Jai Ganga Maiya fame mirrors Uttaranchal Chief Minister Swami Nityanand’s definition of what constitutes proper entertainment — Sagar would hate to make a film he cannot watch with his daughter. Perhaps that’s the reason why he has invited Sagar to shoot a movie in his state.

Two days ago, while deciding to ban all forms of ‘‘obscene’’ entertainment such as fashion shows in the state, Swami invited Sagar along with other film directors such as Shakti Samanta to suggest ways to improve the tourist potential of his state, wherein he asked Sagar to shoot a film there.
For Sagar, who claims his style is divine and devotional, it was the moment he had been waiting for all along. ‘‘I have provided entertainment in the form of Ramayan which had the entire nation glued to their TV sets. That’s the kind of movie I would like to make for the viewers,’’ he says.

However, while Sagar openly discusses the serials he has planned for his home state, he does not disclose the contents of the film he says he will shoot two months from now.

‘‘We live in a competitive world and I do not want to disclose the contents of my project. The serials that I have planned will be about gods and goddesses. I only have to take a dip into our vast mythology to make the serial of my choice,’’ says Sagar.

For the moment he is waiting for the Uttaranchal government to spell out its policy guidelines for shooting in the state. ‘‘I don’t want to chase officials to obtain permits to shoot in the state unless there are clearly defined rules,’’ says the veteran filmmaker.

Sagar is also non-commital on whether his projects will be financed by the state government or private financiers.

Meanwhile, he is basking in the acclaim that the success of his latest serial Jai Ganga Maiya has brought for him. With 84 episodes having been telecast, the mythological serial has 40 more to go.

‘‘Swami Chidanand of Rishikesh has even promised to lead an army of sadhus to clean up the Ganga. I think I have started a movement without the government’s help,’’ he says.

However non-commital Sagar may be about government patronage, that has not prevented him from lobbying for all his serials on the public broadcaster — Doordarshan.

From Ramayan to Shri Krishna to Jai Ganga Maiya, all his serials have debuted on DD and later moved to other channels.