Filmmaker Siddharth Roy Kapur has bought the rights to the true-life story of a man who reunited around 14 lakh people who were lost during the once-in-three-years pilgrimage in Allahabad
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 4, 2018)

Biopics are the flavour of the season and Siddharth Roy Kapur has jumped on the bandwagon, having acquired the rights to Rajaram Tiwari’s life. The late good samaritan reunited around 14 lakh people who had got separated from their families at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. The film is titled Bhule Bhatke Tiwari and will go into scripting soon.

“Though based on a true story, the writers will fictionalise a few incidents, giving the screenplay a dramatic touch and a cinematic vision to make the story interesting for the audience,” informed a source close to the development.

In 1946, when he was 18, Rajaram Tiwari attended the Kumbh Mela for the first time. He was moved by the sight of an elderly woman who had got lost in the crowd. Though she was a complete stranger, he went out of his way to trace her missing relatives and reunite them. The joy he experienced and saw for himself following this selfless gesture gave him the idea of hunting out others who had gone missing at the fair, the largest peaceful gathering in the world.

For 70 years, till his death on August 20, 2016, at the age of 88, he continued to help people. His social initiative is called Khoya Paya Shivir/Lost and Found, and his son Umesh who inherited it as his legacy has carried it forward. “It was Umesh who shared his father’s story with Sid and his team of writers and it instantly captured their imagination. The film goes on floors in the second half of 2019 and noticeable names from the film industry will form a part of the ensemble cast,” concluded the source. 

The late Samaritan devoted 71 years to reuniting those separated at the Kumbh Mela
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 29, 2018)

Bollywood's revered dialogue, 'Kumbh ke mele mein bichchad gaye' might soon be tweaked around as producer Siddharth Roy Kapur vies for a film on the life of Rajaram Tiwari, who dedicated his life to reuniting those separated in the festival.

Bhule Bhatke Tiwari, as the late Samaritan was fondly called, is set to be represented in Kapur's film after the latter met his son, Umesh, to acquire the rights to depict their lives on screen. A source tells mid-day, "Tiwari's work has received global attention. Several publications have covered his 71-year-long mission to help people [lost in the mela, reunite]. His son, who resides in Allahabad, now carries forward this distinctive legacy. Siddharth and his team met Umesh and his family in Allahabad and Mumbai, before sealing the deal to acquire the life rights of Rajaram Tiwari, Umesh Tiwari and the family."

Tiwari had kicked off the noble deed in 1946, and helped reunite lakhs of people. The cultural festival sees a large gathering each year, with an approximate 120 million people having reportedly visited it in 2013.