Sanjay Panigrahi and Praveen Morchhale with Vanraj Bhatia

Group of rural management institute alumni, including National Award-winning filmmaker Praveen Morchhale, has come forward with financial aid for Vanraj Bhatia
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 24, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (September 15) that veteran composer Vanraj Bhatia, who had won the National Award for Govind Nihalani’s TV series, Tamas, is virtually penniless and suffering from debilitating health issues. Soon after, the Javed Akhtar-led Indian Performing Rights Society came to his aid by releasing funds. Now, we have learnt that the alumni of the Anand-based Institute of Rural Management (IRMA) has also come forward with help.

The group raised Rs 2.80 lakh in five days and handed over the cheque to Bhatia on Monday morning. “We met him around 8.30 am at his residence and spoke to him for about an hour. He was extremely happy to see us and accepted the bouquet we had brought him with a smile and asked the assistant to place it somewhere nicely,” says National Award winning filmmaker Praveen Morchhale, who was a part of the group, adding that the veteran seemed to be in good spirits. “He even remembered the towers of our institute and recalled the two tunes he had created for the building. I also showed him a video from last year’s convocation, when his song, “Mero Gaam Katha Parey”, was played. He happily spoke of the good old days.”

Sivakumar Surampudi, another IRMA alumnus, goes on to reveal that that the music of Shyam Benegal’s 1976 directorial, Manthan, composed by Bhatia, remains integral to the institute. “It features in the induction program for new batches on the campus. The song, 'Mero Gaam Katha Parey', is like an anthem for rural management professionals, urging youngsters to work in the countryside,” he shares.