Most people leave their childhood toys behind the moment real life takes over. But for director Orata Shri, watching his nine-year-old son cling lovingly to his world of dinosaurs sparked a deeply personal question: what happens if that pure childhood attachment never fades, even when you grow up? That gave birth to Shabari, his fifth directorial venture, which is set to hit cinemas on October 23. Produced by Ramesh B, Badri, and Vishnukanth A under the Bharavi Films banner, the film aims to tell a story straight from the heart.
"My son Rathan is nine, and he is mildly autistic. He has this single-minded focus on dinosaurs. He draws them down to the smallest detail, cuts paper into shapes, and surrounds himself with them. As adults, we played with marbles and spinning tops when we were young, but we left them behind once life got busy. Seeing him hold onto that love made me think: what if an adult carries that same innocent attachment to one thing all his life?" says Orata.
In Shabari, that childhood attachment takes the form of an old Jeep. "The hero gets this Jeep from his father as a young boy. His father passes away, but the vehicle stays with him. What he endures to protect it, what he loses, and what he gains along the way become the heart of the story. It is entirely a family drama," explains Orata Shri.
