Will India’s First Hollywood Star Sabu Get a Biopic?

Mumbai, July 16 (NationPress) The extraordinary journey of Sabu, India’s first Hollywood actor, is set to unfold on the cinematic stage.

The film and television rights for "Sabu: The Amazing Journey of India’s Pioneer in Hollywood," a celebrated biography by Debleena Majumdar, have been secured by Almighty Motion Picture.

This biography narrates the remarkable true tale of Sabu Dastagir, an Indian boy who ascended from the elephant stables of Mysore to the status of an international film star.

"Sabu’s narrative deserves to be depicted with both grandeur and accuracy. He was not merely India’s first global superstar; he served as a cultural bridge, connecting diverse worlds and eras. Bringing his story to the screen transcends filmmaking; it is about safeguarding a legacy that must be preserved and a duty we cherish immensely," expressed Prabhleen Sandhu, Producer at Almighty Motion Picture.

The son of a mahout (elephant caretaker), Sabu’s odyssey from colonial India to the Hollywood Walk of Fame resembles an epic tale of fame, conflict, identity, and heritage. His life spans various continents and cultures, from his breakout role in "Elephant Boy" to his commendable service as an air gunner during World War II.

Borne in 1924 in Karapura, Mysore, a Princely State of British India, Sabu made his film debut in the 1973 movie "Elephant Boy", which is inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s "Toomai of the Elephants" from "The Jungle Book".

This film, helmed by documentary filmmaker Robert J. Flaherty, who produced the Indian segments, and supervising director Zoltan Korda, who completed the film, won the best director accolade at the Venice Film Festival. Filmed at London Films studios in Denham and on-site in Mysore, it catapulted Sabu into global recognition.

He further starred in Hollywood masterpieces such as "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940), "Jungle Book" (1942), "Arabian Nights" (1942), and "Black Narcissus" (1947), becoming a box office hit and a cultural link between the East and West.

His cinematic contributions were honored with his induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Tragically, Sabu passed away in 1963 from a heart attack at the age of 39.

Majumdar expressed gratitude: "I am immensely thankful to my literary agent Mr. Suhail Mathur for his faith in me and for securing not only a book deal but also an AV one, while sharing this incredible idea with Almighty Motion Picture for recognizing the story’s value and shaping it with this brilliant vision."

"Researching this book was a privilege, as I gained insights into the evolution of cinema amidst world-altering global events."