It’s our duty to take his legacy forward, says Sambhaji Bhagat of Vira Sathidar

Vira Sathidar, known to cine-goers for his realistic act as the balladeer Narayan Kamble in Chaitanya Tamhane’s directorial debut Court (2015), died yesterday in Nagpur, Maharashtra, of COVID-19 complications.

“Vira Sathidar was my friend for the last 30 or 40 years, from the time I was a student,” singer, author and social activist Sambhaji Bhagat said. “He was someone who had an impact on society. He led a life full of hard work and had an important role in the Indian liberal and cultural movement for many years.” 

Bhagat was the person who wrote, composed and sang the songs of rebellion in Court that were performed by Sathidar’s character. Recalling his first meeting with Sathidar long ago in Nagpur, he said, “His home was near a nullah. It was a hut, but it was filled with books. There were books everywhere! He was studious. And he and his wife showed great hospitality.”

Bhagat said that although Sathidar performed revolutionary songs, he was not limited to being a performer. “He used to take part in agitations on the side of the oppressed sections of society, be it farmers, labourers, tribals or Dalits," he said. "He also did street plays and wrote songs.”

Bhagat had joined the Court team before Sathidar. When director Tamhane asked his opinion on who would fit the role of Narayan Kamble, he said someone who looked fair and well-built would not be the right candidate.

After auditioning many actors, they came across a picture of Sathidar. “We saw the picture and felt this is perfect!" recalled Bhagat. "I felt that once he grows a grey beard, the get-up will come across well. Plus, he knew the style of my singing. Hence, there is no pretence on his face [in the movie]. It didn’t feel like he was acting!”

The two started working on the film together. “It helped that we already knew each other for a long time. He said there can’t be any problem as I am writing the songs. My voice and his presentation turned out to be incredible!”

About Sathidar’s other achievements, Bhagat said, “He has given speeches at national and international universities. He never wavered from his duties because basically he was a worker. He was well-versed with the issues faced by Dalits, women, tribals and other oppressed sections of society. Of late, he was doing a lot of study.”

Bhagat learnt eight days ago that Sathidar had been admitted to hospital with COVID-19, but “I felt that he will overcome," he said. "He was a strong person. But two days ago I came to know he was on the ventilator. So I was a bit worried. Unfortunately, his phone had died soon after he was admitted.”

Bhagat was finally able to contact Sathidar's family on Monday and learnt that his friend was in a critical condition. “I got very upset," he said. "But I still hoped he would come out of it. I felt the same even at night. But when I woke up yesterday, I came to know about his death. It was a shock!”

Bhagat is determined to carry on the work that Sathidar did. “Once a person passes away, it is our duty to take his legacy forward," he said. "We will work towards his aim of taking the Indian liberal and cultural movement further.”