Saffron Terror based on the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh

Film "Saffron Terror" based on the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, directed by Trilok Mukhi and starring Kalyanji Jana goes on floor

A film titled "Saffron Terror" that claims to reveal all the inside secrets and alleged terror activities of Goa-based, far-right Hindutva organisation Sanatan Sanstha, its offshoot the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and other right-wing outfits, directed by Trilok Mukhi has gone on floor.

According to actor Kalyanji Jana who has been selected by producer-director Trilok Mukhi to play the role of the protagonist in the film the producer has done extensive research on the Sanatan Sanstha for the last 7 years.  

The project was kept under wraps for the last six months as the makers felt that release of information regarding the project would result in its demise even before it could be born.

The film is produced by Trilok Mukhi Films and directed by producer-director Trilok Mukhi.  Mukhi an intellectual and a writer is a recluse and currently resides in London and is a UK citizen of Indian origin.

He lived in Ponda in Goa - where the Sanatan Sanstha is headquartered for four years, before moving to the UK and started directing films. He is also working on another historical film Pratapgad, which is moving at a snail's pace.

The film "Saffron Terror" will be an eye-opener for both - civil society and the government. Fearing a government ban or wide-spread protests in India, Mukhi plans to first release the film abroad in the US and UK markets and only after that if the atmosphere is conducive, in India.

"The film is based on true facts and real stories. It is not a work of fiction, Mukhi said, adding that truth hurts and many people including a lot of politicians will not want this film to be screened in India, as thousands of skeletons will tumble out of the closets of the Sanstha and the HJS."

The film begins even before the inception of the Sanatan Sanstha and covers several incidents or alleged terror activities, reportedly associated with the Sanatan:

The Sanstha has washed its hands off all the above allegations and claimed that if a member committed a crime, you cannot blame the entire organisation. Drawing an analogy, a Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson said, "if a Christian priest in Kerala commits the offence of rape, you cannot blame the Pope. You cannot say the Catholic Church or the Pope encourages or teaches people to rape."

The director of the film claims he has researched the Sanatan Sanstha for the last 7-10 years, since the time he lived in Ponda. Some Sanatan 'seekers' or 'sadaks' were my good friends. You can call me an "outstanding member" of the Sanatan Sanstha - a person who was  an unofficial member, who never entered the precincts of the organisation.

According to actor Kalyanji Jana, who is the narrator and main protagonist in the film and plays the role of a 'seeker' or 'sadak' and a senior member of both the organisations - Sanatan Sanstha and HJS, the film will reveal the dirty politics and terror plots of the organisations which claim to be working for the benefit of Hindus. 

Jana explains that the film is very well-researched and will reveal the true or inside story and hidden agenda behind the murders of  Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi and Lankesh and the other related terror activities of the Sanatan Sanstha and its associated outfits like the Sri Ram Sene and the HJS. He alleges that certain elements in the Shri Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan whose chief is Sambhaji Bhide are also associated with terror activities.

A spokesperson for Trilok Mukhi Films said the film is likely to be ready for release in January-February of next year. 

The Sanatan Sanstha has time and again denied all the allegations made against it, claiming that it has no control over what individual members do in their personal capacity.