When a movie screener comes to me over a year (!) late from the PR (and only because they had read my—positive—review of Ohh My Dog), I realize that I cannot do a review so late in the day.
All I can therefore do is acquaint viewers and especially animal lovers among them about this milestone movie that documents a love story—of a woman and a dog. The film can be viewed on Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
By happenstance, there is a personal connection—I had adopted a trained but lonely dog (whose owners had left the country years back) in my teens. Because of him, my till-then established fear of dogs disappeared as I talked to him, fed him, cared for him and took him for walks thrice a day. When he contracted scabies five years later and it was suppressed by allopathic ointments prescribed by a vet, his mighty frame (he was mixed breed from the jungles) turned frail and he became so weak that he could barely walk. Seven years after the time we adopted him, he passed away and I could never master emotions enough to keep another dog.
(So, as an aside here, I admire the woman here, Pooja Bhale, who always took Homeopathic medicines as treatment for her animals.)
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Oslo: A Tail of Promise opened at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The film later had its premiere in Pune with its presenter and co-producer, John Abraham gracing the occasion. John, at the premiere, had said, “Animals are not here to serve us. Or entertain us. Stories like these need to be told because compassion is not a choice, it’s a responsibility.”
Oslo: A Tail of Promise is a 80-minute non-fiction film about Oslo, a Siberian Husky with a traumatic backstory, and Pooja, a woman searching for belonging. It becomes a truth-is-larger-than-fiction tale of an extraordinary love. As distributor Yusuf Shaikh told me, “It’s a beautiful tale. And Pooja was completely obsessed with Oslo, who passed away early this year.”
The documentary repeatedly sends three messages – “Shared Planet” “Adopt, Don’t Shop” and “Nature is Sentient.”
The bond between Oslo and Pooja R. Bhale, founder of the Protecterra Ecological Foundation, is simply about how deep friendship can transcend species. Oslo means “God of the mountains” and Pooja says in the film that his eyes reminded her of the “magical” Northern Lights.
Pooja, a natural recluse from human relationships, even separated from her husband Varun (but remains friends), and despite advanced education abroad, makes a gritty decision to live in a forest amidst animals. The list swells from dogs to cats, cattle and even elephants for a while. When Oslo came into the couple’s life, at the age of five and a half months, he has already seen six “homes.” He was clearly insecure and felt abandoned. And so, for the rest of his life (about 13 years), Pooja made sure that he was never alone, not for a single moment.
The film describes Oslo’s eccentric food tastes with relish. While the other dogs and cats loved chicken and biryani, Oslo thrived more on cheese, chapatis and cat-food! When the need came for him to spend time with Pooja’s husband in the city, he was lavishly treated to Surmai Fry (Fried King-Fish), loved his daily “screentime” (watching videos of himself!) and the air-conditioning!
Which brings us to his Siberian origins. The average temperature for the species ranged from 10 to minus 25 degrees Celsius back home and Pune could go beyond 40 degrees in summer. So Pooja would ensure that she and Oslo travel to the Himalayas to enjoy the snow and bracing cold climate every year. On these trips, Oslo would help Pooja make innumerable new friends and hosts who looked forward to his arrival every year. Oslo would travel in Pooja’s car and had remarkable acumen about small details in the travel. He accompanied her on long treks and exploration and never once dirtied the car.
On occasion, he would exhibit some miraculous powers. An animal communicator, Shalaka, only saw his photograph and sensed that Pooja was in need of funds through it. Oslo clearly was also like a spirit guide, a Shaman who connected the physical world with the spirit realm, uncovering hidden truths. And so, funds arrived and Pooja’s Protecterra Ecological Foundation was founded.
Directed by Isha Pungaliya, the film is simply about truth with little dramatization, if at all. It is produced by JA Entertainment, Protecterra Ecological Foundation, and Vaanar Nirmit. It was distributed by Yusuf Shaikh of Janta Cinema. John Abraham, Amey Gosavi and Minnakshi Das have produced the film.
Hriday Gattani has scored music. The superb camerawork is by Shamin Kulkarni and Soham Kokil and the editing by Satyajeet Kelkar.
It is said that Pooja had a revelation to make this film during a highway traffic jam near Shimla, when her car was stuck for hours. As she rolled down the window, letting Oslo peek out, everyone stuck in the jam was astonished and began smiling. She knew at that moment that Oslo’s story had to be told.
Today, Pooja’s The Farm is home for many animals. It is evident that Oslo’s entry into her life gave her the courage to leave the cushy environs of Pune city and come to where she truly belonged.
