Dressed in traditional blue ikat kurta-pyjamas and sarees, beating drums and singing folk songs at the top of their voices in street-theatre style, the crew of Sala Budha took the delegates present at the 44th IFFI by surprise. Their enthusiasm and energy was infectious enough to draw in some of the foreign delegates who joined them in their act.
Sala Budha, (The Stupid Old Man) is competing as one of the 26 feature films in the prestigious Indian Panorama section of the 44th International Film Festival of India. Made in Sambalpuri dialect spoken in the western part of Odisha, this Odia film is a tale of human values and generosity.
Set in a rural backdrop, Sala Budha ventures into the folklore lives of simple God believing people, with an 83-year-old protagonist, sketching a journey through these people’s faiths, culture, traditions and musical lives, in a world where man has only learnt to give and share.
Addressing the media during the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), director of Sala Budha Sabyasachi Mohapatra, said that instead of looking at elderly people as liability by the younger ones, they should be considered as a great resource for leading the society.
One in every five persons will be over 65 by 2035. It is not just the traditional values but the older generation who could be the light house for prosperity.
Mohapatra said the story is based on a 100 years old story penned by his father, Sahitya Akademy award winner Shri Kapileswar Prasad Mohapatra. The film has a subtle message for the present fast-paced, uncaring society.
