Sant Tukaram

As an audience, I've had the fortune of being witness to the mastery of craft that Aditya Om possesses, or has always possessed, if you ask me. I've been seeing him from the time when he was this fresh-faced youngster during the time he made his bow in Babul to when he graduated to the celluloid , winning over critics and audiences alike, essaying multiple roles with consummate ease and grace.

We can wax lyrical about his enormous acting prowess and extol his range, perhaps on another day, but right now let's just pause for a second, and talk about Sant Tukaram.

To see him and his cohort make a movie, about such a revered saint whose teachings brought the advent of change in our society beset with grave inequality, is worthy of great applause and commendation. He's the kind of an artist who feels deeply and to be a human among persons is the greatest challenge that there is, per Dostoevsky.

The wave of support I've seen for him encourages me and bolsters my belief in the fact that no earnest effort ever goes in vain, no matter how much the detractors may try to besmirch it. Sant Tukaram's teachings are what our society needs more of, and if we can rise above the one-upmanship and appreciate the Art and the intent, we do an auteur like Aditya Om real justice.