The makers of Sujay Dahake’s Shyamchi Aai (2023) have revealed that Om Bhutkar will be playing the role of the protagonist Sane Guruji in the film. The biopic on the late iconic social activist has been adapted from his autobiographical novel named Shyamchi Aai, which focuses on his bond with his mother.
Born as Pandurang Sadashiv Sane in 1899, Sane Guruji was a teacher, author, social activist and freedom fighter.
The first poster of the film, which was released yesterday, 15 August, when India completed 75 years of independence, shows Bhutkar as Sane Guruji with a peaceful and calm expression. The blackboard with a sketch of a mother and her son also brings to life the subject matter.
In 1953, PK Atre adapted the same book in an National award-winning film. The Marathi film starred Damuanna Joshi, Vanamala and Madhav Vaze.
Shyamchi Aai, which is shot in black-and-white, is the second time that Bhutkar is playing a lead character after Mulshi Pattern (2018), where he was seen as a no-holds-barred gangster.
The upcoming film has Ashok Patki taking on the role of the music composer. Sharing the reason for his selection, Dahake had said in a statement in June this year, “The film needed a veteran composer like Patki to do justice to it through music. There are many well-known musicians in Indian music [industry] today, but he has been chosen for the music direction as he can make sure the sentiments of the songs can reach the hearts of the audience. The main reason for handing the responsibility of music to Patki is that the film will be released in black-and-white.”
Produced by Amruta Arun Rao, Shyamchi Aai is due to be released in 2023.