In the Hour of God

Directed by Konarak Reddy

 

 

“The moment of their meeting was fashioned by Eternity. Human beings come together not casually or by chance, but because of past affinity. The Soul can recognize the answering Soul, even though Time may intervene before the recognition becomes a fact.” - Narada

                                                    Brief Note on Savitri

 

Sri Aurobindo, along with Rabindranth Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi are the prime harbingers of the Indian Renaissance. But the lay person knows little about Sri Aurobindo’s life, work or vision.

 

I have been a frequent visitor to the Aurobindo Ashram from the days of my childhood. Many of my relatives are permanent residents at the ashram. My son, Konarak, studied sarod with Sri Debiprasad Ghosh at the ashram. The Mother herself told me that I would return to the ashram in my old age. I feel that writing the Savitri script constitutes this return.

 

Savitri is Sri Aurobindo’s literary magnum opus. It is possibly the longest epic in the English language, longer even than Dante’s Inferno. The dialogues between Savitri and Death are the most inspired utterances in World Poetry. It is a poem of hope and fulfillment on earth. Unlike the Mahabharata where the ancient poet foresees the Age of Kali, the Iron Age that now pervades the earth, Savitri turns it’s grand vision towards the Age of Gold that is coming to reign. Thus offering the viewer, in these times of pessimism, a vision of hope, a prophetic vision of a brave, new, love-filled world.

 

Our Savitri tells the mythological and very familiar story of the love between Savitri and Satyavan. Sage Narada is the sutradhar who tells the story to his young pupils in his ashrama. Weaving together dialogues that are entertaining and accessible to everyone, the great story unfolds. The climactic moment occurs at the moment of Satyavan’s death, when Yama appears to collect Satyavan’s soul. The scenes that follow are the core of the work. Savitri battles with Death. A battle of wits between two opposing forces. One for the spontaneity of Life and the other for the calm repose of Death.

                                                                                                                     - Pattabhi Rama Reddy

                                                                                             (February 19th 1919—May 6th 2006)

 

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