Amrita Raichand goes green

TV actor Amrita Raichand to be part of a film that is based on a 300-year-old environmental campaign

Films on political movements have already proved to be a selling genre in Bollywood. But now, for the first time, producer Suraj Bishnoi who hails from the Bishnoi tribe in Rajasthan, is setting his film around an environmental movement. The film revolves around a rare campaign started by the women of his tribe to save trees. “Three hundred years ago, a lady named Amrita Devi lost her life while starting a movement that aimed at saving trees from the King. She demanded that no trees be cut,” says Suraj.

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Giving a brief account of the movement, Suraj adds, “She was slaughtered, and so were her two daughters. Later on, even the villagers weren’t spared. More than 300 people lost their lives in this protest. That wasn’t the first time either. About 100 years before them, six people were killed for the same reason.”

The film titled Saako-363, Amrita Ki Khejadi, will be helmed by first time director Kalyan Seervi, who is also the co-producer of the film. It will star television actor Amrita Raichand, who has been roped in for the lead role. However, she wasn’t the first choice. “We tried contacting Amrita Rao, as she is a member of PETA and is very active with environmental issues. But we couldn’t meet her. Amrita Raichand has agreed to do the role, so we are going to go ahead with her. We have cast people from NSD (National School of Drama) for other roles,” says Suraj.