Remembering Sri Aurobindo on his 150th Birth Anniversary with a Short film

Independence Day 2022 also marks 150 years of Sri Aurobindo, who was born on 15^th August, 1872, keeping this in mind Indian Missions abroad under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has screened the short film ‘Sri Aurobindo: The Beginning of Spiritual Journey’ this Independence Day to mark the 150^th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The short film is based on Sri Aurobindo Ghose’s prison life (1908-1909) and was shot in Alipore Jail, Kolkata, from where his spiritual journey has started. Sri Aurobindo was arrested for conspiracy on 5th May 1908 and spent a full year in Alipore jail while the British Government, in a protracted court trial tried to implicate him in various revolutionary activities. It came to be known as Alipore Bomb Case. He was finally acquitted and released on 6th May 1909.

The film puts spotlight on an important chapter of Sri Aurobindo’s journey that often gets overlooked when one talks about his exemplary life and work. Directed by award-winning Indian filmmaker Suraj Kumar. Sharing his thoughts about the film, Suraj Kumar said, “While Sri Aurobindo Ghose was lodged in jail, his spiritual transformation started just after 2-3 days of prison life. My short film ‘Sri Aurobindo: The Beginning of Spiritual Journey’ documents his beginning of spiritual journey in Alipore jail.”

The film stars Vikrant Chauhan in the titular role. The film has been premiered by various Indian Mission abroad including, Embassy of India, Paris, India in UK, CGI Birmingham, Switzerland, Colombia & Ecuador, Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO and Bahrain on 15th August 2022. ‘Sri Aurobindo: The Beginning of Spiritual Journey’ will be screened in various schools and colleges all across the country over the next one year.