In 1953, Pralhad Keshav Atre — popularly known as Acharya Atre — made a movie Shyamchi Aai, based on social worker and freedom fighter Sane Guruji's autobiography. It became the first film to win the Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal) for Best Film at the National Film Awards.
Now, Marathi filmmaker Sujay Dahake is set to adapt the book into a film. The shooting of the movie, also titled Shyamchi Aai, has begun at a sacred site called Pawas in the Konkan region.
Maharashtra minister for higher and technical education Uday Samant was present on the sets and clapped the auspicious muhurat shot, marking the commencement of the principal photography.
The film, which will be shot extensively in the Konkan, will be completed in two shooting schedules. The casting was done through a long process and child artists from all over Maharashtra auditioned for the role. The makers have opted to keep their names under wraps.
The film, which will be shot in black and white, is being produced by Amruta Arun Rao under the banner of Amruta Films.
Dahake had been toying with the idea of making a film on Shyamchi Aai since the release of his first film Shala (2012). Since then he has made Ajoba (2014), Phuntroo (2015) and Kesari (2020). And finally after years of background work, he finally announced the film last year.