Former international cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan has praised Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji Trust trustee Krishna Kumar for his determination to bring his guru’s life and teachings to the world through ‘Sai Padananda’, saying making a biopic on one’s guru is no ordinary effort. “Many producers may hesitate to make a biopic, but this is an attempt to take a real life story to the people,” Muralitharan said at the press meet of the film in Chennai
He said he had known Krishna Kumar for nearly 20 years and regarded him like a guru, adding that Krishna Kumar had worked for nearly two years to realise the project. “Once he decides to do something, he has the ability to complete it,” he said, while congratulating the entire cast and crew.
The film is based on the life and spiritual journey of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, who was born in 1906 at Poiyamani near Tiruchy and was known as the ‘Poiyamani Selvar’. A devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba, he devoted his life to spirituality and service and served as Founder-Patron of the Bengaluru Sai Spiritual Centre and president of the Madras All India Sai Samaj. He attained Mahasamadhi in Bengaluru on January 14, 1980. Produced by the Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji Trust without a commercial motive, the film seeks to preserve his life and teachings as a historical record. The team filmed at Poiyamani, Bengaluru and other sacred locations associated with the Swamiji.
Directed by P Nithyanandam under the guidance of Sathya Jyothi Films, Sai Paathanandha features Anand Mouli Swamiji as Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. Arun David is the cinematographer, Abhishek has composed the music, Subash Bhagavathiyappan is the editor and P Nanda Kumar is the art director. AI technology and graphics have been used for selected sequences. Director Siva, who attended the event, praised the film’s spiritual treatment and Anand Mouli Swamiji’s performance, while highlighting the emotional impact of the music and climax song. Playback singer Veeramani Raju also spoke about his association with the project and the opportunity to sing in a film composed by his son Abhishek.
Krishna Kumar said making a film on Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji had been a long-standing dream and described the project’s completion as a “miracle”. He said he had limited financial resources but remained determined to take his guru’s message to people. Other speakers, including Sathya Jyothi Films producer Senthil Thyagarajan, journalist Ramji, retired police officer Thamaraikannan, Union of Journalists’ Subash and dialogue writer Yaar Kannan, praised the film for focusing on faith, compassion, humanity and the guru-disciple relationship. The team said Sai Paathanandha was intended not merely as a biopic but as a spiritual record that would introduce Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji’s life and message of unconditional love to future generations.