Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak has offered to arrange funds for Kolkata-based premiere film school Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) for making a movie on Swachh Bharat. SRFTI authorities have welcomed the proposal.
Incidentally, the Akshay Kumar-starring ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’, which revolves around a wife’s resolve to get a toilet at home, was one of the biggest Bollywood hits in 2017.
“Pathak is an institution by himself, not only for his role as founder of Sulabh but also for his role in addressing other social issues. During his visit, he inspired us to make a film on clean India and told us not to worry about funds. We are definitely going to make this film,” SRFTI director Debamitra Mitra said on Friday.
Pathak paid a visit to the institute on Thursday to deliver a speech on cleanliness. He also spent time with the faculty and encouraged them to take up the project.
“SRFTI is a premiere institution and has all the skills and technology required for making a film that can inspire thousands. I have assured them that they do not need to worry about funds. I’ll fund part of it and there are various government schemes from which funds can be used for making the film. I will take care of arranging funds from government schemes,” said Pathak.
“Swachh Bharat is a dream that all of us should envision. This was the dream of Gandhiji. All of us has a role to play in making India clean and maintaining cleanliness,” he said.
Read: Municipality in Rajasthan’s Baran to award residents for segregating garbage before disposal
SRFTI, along with Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, are the two film schools of the country that are fully funded by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting.
Ever since its foundation in 1995, films made by SRFTI students have made their way to film festivals around the world and won awards. The institute has also produced several national- award- winning directors, editors, cinematographers and sound designers.
