Salman Khan “blown away” by ‘Roar: Tigers of the Sundarbans’

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, generally known for being rather coy when it comes to other people’s projects, has thrown his not-inconsiderable support behind a new film made outside the usual Bollywood studio system.

‘Roar: Tigers of the Sundarbans’ is a spectacular thriller shot on location inside the world-renowned Sundarban wetlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which straddles India and Bangladesh.

The film tells the story of a motley crew of mercenaries who embark on a terrifying chase through the mangrove forests and mudflats of the Sundarbans in search of one of the park’s most famous resident: a Royal Bengal Tigress responsible for the disappearance of a young journalist.

Writer, producer and director duo Kamal Sadanah and Abis Rizvi used cutting edge filming techniques previously unseen in India for the shoot and also enlisted the help of Pune-based VFX company Anibrain, whose previous credits include Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’.

Speaking at the launch of the film’s trailer in Mumbai in September, Khan was effusive in his praise, saying he was “blown away” by the “amazing” look of the film.��”I’ve known these guys for the longest time. When they first came to me and told me that they were making a film based inside the Sundarbans and about a White Tiger, I immediately thought, ‘Oh they are making Shere Khan!'”

“But I’m really blown away by this film. It’s amazing. I’m so impressed. The look of the film is on par with any Hollywood film”, Khan said.

The film features an ensemble cast including Abhinav Shukla, Himarsha V, Achint Kaur, Subrat Dutta, Varindher Singh Ghuman, Nora Fatehi, Ali Quli, Aaran Chaudhary, Aadil Chahal, Pranay Dixit and Pulkit.

The thrilling journey begins following the disappearance and death of a young journalist whilst on assignment in the Sundarbans.

When the journalist’s brother arrives in the area to reclaim his body, he is stonewalled and forced out by locals who live in terror of an unseen beast who’s roaming the mangrove forests and wreaking havoc.

Determined to find his brother’s remains, Pundit assembles a motley crew of mercenaries and adventurers to mount the search with the help of a beautiful and mysterious local guide.

The ensuing journey takes the team on a terrifying and high-speech chase through one of the most menacing environments on the planet: one which will test the men and women’s courage and resourcefulness to the very limit as they trek deeper and deeper into the marshy heartland of the Sundarbans.

Along the way the team have to battle not only the formidable and frightening beast who rules the Sundarbands but a host of other adversaries including a villainous Tiger poacher.

To give the film as authentic a look and feel as possible, writer and director team Kamal Sadanah and Abis Rizvi, along with the cast and crew, lived on board several large fishing vessels one of the many estuaries that criss-cross the Sundarbans, living amongst the myriad wildlife of the area, taking in the sights, sounds and the sense of terror one feels in the presence of some of the most dangerous creatures in the world which, apart from the area’s Tiger population, also includes salt-water crocodiles, feral wild boar and dozens of varieties of snakes.

The producers also used a variety of cutting edge technologies, including ‘Helicams’, unmanned drones mounted with multiple high-resolution cameras which provide a true bird’s eye view of the vastness and beauty of the Sundarbans.

Among other highlights, ‘Roar’ producers enlisted the help of Slumdog Millionaire sound designer Resul Pookutty, who sprinkled some of his Oscar-winning magic to enhance the film’s thrills.

‘Roar: Tigers of the Sundarbans’ is in UK cinemas 31st October.