Sant Tukaram

Ever since I saw the posters of the upcoming movie ‘Sant Tukaram’, I eagerly awaited its release. When I found out it was going to be premiered in Mumbai, I just had to go! Besides the theme, the other excitement was that someone I knew was playing a role in it—Shiva Suryavanshi. Shiva is a member of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra and a Yuva Veer from the second batch of All India Chinmaya Yuva Kendra’s Youth Empowerment Programme. This movie is the second big-screen debut of Shiva, the first being Maasaab in 2021.This movie revolves around the life of Sant Tukaram, the 17th-century poet and great bhakta of Lord Vitthala. Lead actor Vinod Bhave in the role of Sant Tukaram, literally transports the audience into the Bhakti era. I felt like one of the bhaktas around Sant Tukaram, basking in the bliss of his abhangas and his devotion to Lord Vitthala.The movie begins with a scene of an elderly couple who have all worldly happiness, but are troubled by a lingering thought about whether they are helping the masses gain spiritual knowledge. The character played by Sanjay Mishra explains beautifully why a murti is important in the journey of bhakti and in attaining moksha. He gives a simple example of how his wife felt her mother’s presence just by looking at her mother’s jewellery every day. A murti is a medium to feel the presence of the Lord, helping the bhakta connect to the higher Self; which is why it has an important place in Sanatan Dharma..The scenes in the movie flow through the memories of Sant Tukaram, who narrates the journey of Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile to ‘Sant Tukaram’, who became one with Lord Vitthala through his unhindered bhakti. The rejection by the priest class, the anger and disappointment of his wife for not being able to support the family financially, the death of family members during the famine, the grief of drowning his abhangas in the river Indrayani… Sant Tukaram faces it all with a smile on his face and trust in his ishta devata Bhagwan Vitthala. Even during the situation when his wife Avali smashes the sugarcane in anger (as Sant Tukaram returns without selling the sugar cane and therefore without any money for her to buy groceries for the family), he thanks Lord Vitthala for his wife’s anger subsiding after smashing the sugarcane, and also for the sugarcane having broken into two pieces so that they both can eat it. For Sant Tukaram, every situation, good or bad, was Bhagwan’s wish for him..Shiva Suryavanshi plays the negative character of Mambaji, who does not agree with Sant Tukaram’s style of bhakti and writing abhangas on Lord Vitthala. He also detests the villagers becoming Sant Tukaram’s followers. The various expressions he portrays while being angry, irritated, harsh, cunning, and even plotting the murder of Sant Tukaram are all very well expressed by Shiva.Arun Govil plays the role of Lord Vitthala. One scene depicts the love and mercy of Bhagwan taking various forms for his bhakta, helping him cross this ocean of samsara by giving him strength and guidance. The Lord shows that no bhakta is alone on the path leading to bhakti/moksha. The movie being in the Hindi language will evoke an emotional response in the masses who have not heard about Sant Tukaram, as he is mostly known in Maharashtra and Goa.Throughout the movie, there are poignant statements that strike deep within and stay with us—‘Bas japle Hari naam, yeh daulat maine jee bharke hai kamai… Vithoba Rakumai.. Vithoba Rakumai,’ meaning ‘I have earned this wealth by simply chanting Hari’s name... Vithoba Rakumai... Vithoba Rakumai’. The audience sang along, basking in Bhagwan’s glory!Don’t miss this movie when it comes to your city! I, for one, am definitely watching it again.

Sant Tukaram

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