C.M. Paul
Kolkata, jan 19, 2019: A film on Australian doctor Graham Stuart Staines who served leprosy affected persons, for 34 years in the tribal interior of eastern India’s Odhisha state marks 20th year of the brutal killing by making it available in 6 languages.
The Indian production film entitled “War Path…. Beyond The Life” was released in April 2017 in Hindi, English, Malayalam and Tamil. Dubbing is on for French and Portuguese language versions of the film.
The 90 minute film by Nashik based film producer Dr. Dilip Wagh and co-produced by Rohini Wagh and Sangita Bagul presents – Dr. Graham Staines life story.
The film which fetched 9 Awards started its world premiere at Milan International Film Festival in December 2017 winning awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Hair and Make-Up.
The Nashik based Deepak Shivade directed film also emerged runner-up in the Best Feature Film category.
The film project took Wagh 15 years, faced much opposition, and 3 attempts to complete the film.
“I faced several problems from right wing Hindu groups which did not want the film to be made. Because of it the film project took me 15 years and I suffered huge financial loses. We have actors from India, the US and Russia,” Wagh says.
Wagh who received an honorary doctorate from the University of Jerusalem on researching Graham Staines, started working on the movie, 3 years after the gruesome murder of the missionary, 23 January 1999.
“It was due to Staines that leprosy patients received proper treatment and despite several odds, Staines worked with his family in tribal areas of Odisha,” states Wagh.
The film was produced by Nashik NGO Aasha Foundation Trust and shot at a tribal location in the Nashik district.
“Our mission is to present to the world, 34 years of the self sacrificing work done for tribal leprosy patients by Dr. Staines and his family. With this film, we hope people get inspired to work for the poor and marginalised people who need help and care,” Wagh tells.
“As the producer of the movie, I offer to show this film free of cost,” says Wagh who has screened the film in more than 300 schools and churches.
“Staines served leprosy affected people in the country but was burnt alive along-with his two children in Odisha,” Wagh reminds.
It was on the fateful night of 22-23 January 1999 that Staines, 58, and his two sons, Phillip, 9, and Timothy, 7, were burnt alive in the jeep while they were sleeping.