30/03/2023
I remember the day I first learnt about Satish. I was laying down on a couch on a rooftop, looking out to sea on a Sunday afternoon, and had stumbled across an article written by Rom Whitaker. As I read through, legendary tales about India’s Mr. Sea Turtle had me completely hooked. I was excited, intrigued, and deeply fascinated by this almost Life of Pi-esque story, about a man who marooned himself on wild islands in India, living alongside colonies of nesting sea turtles. I was determined to find him.
Yet, of course, it couldn’t be that easy. A man like Satish, truly humble and old-school, would not have a digital footprint. I would need to use the old fashioned way, and that meant tracking him down by word of mouth. This led me to Kartik Shanker, who had known Satish for many years, and had recently written a book featuring him. Kartik gave me the number of Satish’s daughter, who shared with me a landline number for her parent’s home. I nervously dialled it, and the phone was picked up by a cheerful voice who I would soon come to know and love as Aunty Brenda. She handed over the phone to Satish. I would be glad to say that he was immediately convinced to be featured in a film, but it was quite the contrary. The first response I got was a point blank ‘no’.
But I guess I was really determined. A few days later, I called back, and this time, Satish invited me to their home. As I turned up on a hot summer afternoon, and was lovingly welcomed in, I had no idea that this was just the beginning. I’m not sure why Satish agreed that day, but he did. And once he was in, he was in wholeheartedly.
Over the next six years, both Uncle Satish and Aunty Brenda entertained our film crew's every whim and fancy in filming his story. And we filmmakers can be quite demanding. I think we wrapped up shoot about three times at their home, where Aunty Brenda cooked us a celebratory meal, only to return again!
Many years later, when I asked why he agreed, he responded, “Probably a throwback to the good old days. To get back and see those islands again.” I guess a part of him will always belong there, in those wild islands, with the sea turtles.
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