The life of a monk

A documentary on the life of Jain monk Acharya Vidyasagarji is being screened in Pune on December 2. Vidhi Kasliwal, founder and CEO Landmarc Films, who has produced and directed Vidyoday, says the one-of-a-kind documentary depicts the life of the monk and talks about his journey. 

Born and brought up in Mumbai, and a Jain by faith, Kasliwal, who earlier worked with Rajshri Productions, went on to start her own production house, Landmarc Films. “I’m a little alienated from the monk culture and the only real connection I had with them is through my mother’s side of the family; they are from Ajmer, Rajasthan. It was through them that I learnt that Acharya Vidyasagarji has completed 50 years of monkhood and the community was preparing for various activities to celebrate this milestone. They had been wondering if a film could be made on his life. So when they approached me, various ideas came to my mind — whether to make a film, a docu drama, a documentary or do an animation. I came up with a concept called Mook Mati, a 500-page long epic poem written by him as the base, and a documentary,” informs Kasliwal.

She further says that Vidyasagarji is a monk in the truest sense and is detached from worldly things, hence she couldn’t speak to him before or while making the documentary. “To be honest, he isn’t even aware that a film has been made on him. He didn’t talk to us or give any interviews, but that is not his concern. He is always concerned about how he can work towards his spirituality and is totally unaware of worldly things.  However, we got a lot of cooperation and guidance from his pupils —munis and householders. For them it was like a gurudakshina,” she says.  

In the documentary, they have tried to capture as many aspects of his life as possible. He is 72, so right from his birth to the present day is what they have tried to incorporate in the film to the best of their ability. But will youngsters connect with the film? Kasliwal says that they have tried their best to not make it a religious documentary. She says it is an autobiographical documentary about a spiritual leader. “Given the kind of aspects we have touched upon and the aesthetics we have used in the documentary, it is more than a spiritual or a religious film. So youngsters may appreciate it. We have taken utmost care to not give in any religious angle to it because we are not propagating any religion or promoting him as a religious leader. It is just documenting his extraordinary life,” she explains.   

THE DOCUMENTARY
Vidyoday, a captivating documentary chronicles the journey of Vidyasagarji from his childhood to his monasticism and his elevation to Acharyahood (leadership), along with his teachings and his contributions on to the Jain community and society as a whole. The film also enlightens us about the various facets of Jainism as a philosophy, the frugal yet fulfilling lives of Digambara Jain monks, their main teachings and principles, such as respecting life of all species and ahimsa (non-violence).

Vidyoday will be screened at Neelayam Theatre, Sadashiv Peth, on December 2, at 9.30 am.