Tulasi Apa

Tulasi Apa^[1] is a 2016 Odia biographical film, produced by Anupam Patnaik and directed by Amiya Patnaik.^[2] The film depicts the life of Tulasi Munda, an educator and social activist from Keonjhar, Odisha.

The film introduces Barsha Nayak as the main protagonist. The film has been critically acclaimed and won numerous awards including Six Odisha State awards in 2015.

The film was released on 19 May 2017.^[3]

Plot

Born and brought up in a tribal region of Odisha, ‘Padmashri^[4]’ Tulasi Munda did not allow the poverty, illiteracy and un-development of her locality to dishearten her, discourage her or dampen her spirit. She took a humble step to educate her fellow beings, which grew into a huge movement.   Be it urban-rural divide or conflict of mines-owner and workers or exploitation of the have-nots by the haves, Tulasi Munda protested each and every act of injustice and discrimination and turned the tide in favor of her fellow beings.

The film encapsulates the essence of Tulasi Munda’s life.^[5] It enumerates her struggle and highlights her achievements. 

Cast

Barsha Nayak as Tulasi Munda

Madhusmita as young Tulasi Munda

Sujit Paikray as Sahrai Oram

Mamata Panda as Janha

Lochoni Bag as Tulasi Munda’s Mother

Premanjan  Parida as Tulasi Munda’s Father

Netrananda  Barik as Tulasi Munda’s Uncle

Kanakalata  Das as Tulasi Munda’s Aunty

Kajal  Satpathy as Jhingi

Debananda Sony as Jhingi’s Husband

Susil Mishra as Nabakrishna Chaudary

Production

The research started on 2014 November by Abha Rani Bal. She was a primary school teacher in Barbil. She used to travel every week to Serenda, Tulasi Munda’s home to meet her and get the story from her. After months of meetings, discussions and research the script was formed by the end of 2014. Barsha Nayak, who portrays the lead character was shortlisted from some auditions. She had to travel from Hyderabad to Bhubaneswar frequently for the shooting as she was working in an IT company in Hyderabad. The workshop started in Bhubaneswar in January 2015, followed by the shooting in February first week. The entire schedule was completed in 30 days.

The film is shot in and around Keonjhar, Joda and Barbil all mining areas, and original locations where Tulasi Munda had grown up and spent her entire childhood.

According to the director the most difficult part, as it was with biopic Tulasi Apa is that one cannot take cinematic liberties. Most of the time people are sure, that while making a biopic, you will end up making a documentary if you are going to be inflexible. How to dramatize a person’s life, without making it look like a documentary – that was the challenge. ‘And when you end up doing it correctly, I think it’s a tremendous achievement’ said Amiya Patnaik.

Tulasi Apa is a biopic with a difference. The woman herself is different. She stands out in the crowd yet does not. Generally, when we deal with biopics we deal with a full life. But in Tulasi Apa, the director concentrated on her activism spans more than four decades of representation for the voiceless. How she became the symbol of tribal and women empowerment? That’s what makes it different.

Release

Tulasi Apa is slated to hit the theatres on 19 May 2017.

Music

The music for Tulasi Apa has been composed by Pankaj Jal, and the lyrics has been penned down Nimai Mohanty. The music rights of the film has been acquired by Eastern Media Entertainment.

Accolades

References