The Remarkable Story of Evan Leversage behind Srijit’s Uma
RBN Web Desk: Filmmaker Srijit Mukherji is into the post-production of his upcoming film Uma, which is slated to release this summer. The film marks the big screen debut of actor Jisshu Sengupta’s daughter Zara. The two will play a father-daughter duo in the film. Besides Jisshu and Zara, Uma has Anjan Dutt, Srabanti Chatterjee, and Rudranil Ghosh in important roles.
The film is about a terminally ill child who wants to celebrate an early Durga Puja at her home.
Uma, according to Srijit, is based on the true story of Evan Leversage.
The seven-year old Evan, suffering from brain cancer, wanted to have an early Christmas because his doctors feared that he may not live until December. Evan had developed an inoperable brain tumour before he was two years old and had to go through several gruelling chemotherapy sessions and radiation.
The tumour, however, kept growing.
In September 2015, Evan’s family ran out of options. The boy prepared a ‘bucket list’ of things he wanted to do for the time he was still alive. ‘One last Christmas’ topped the list.
Now a Reprise of Basanta Bilap
What happened next was remarkable in every sense. People of his hometown, St George, burst into action to fulfil Evan’s dream. The entire town was decorated Christmas-style on 24 October. Thousands of people, even from neighbouring towns, joined a parade in Evan’s honour.
What started out as a request for some neighbours to hang a few Christmas lights, to help make Evan`s early Christmas a…
Posted by Evan's Journey with Childhood Cancer Evans Legacy on Saturday, October 31, 2015
My film, Srijit said, is dedicated to Evan Leversage and the people of St George. It was an extraordinary act of humanity, the director said, adding that his film has been adapted to the Indian context. I have invited Evan’s mother Nicole Wellwood to the premiere, he said.
Evan died on 8 December, 2015, and was laid to rest two days later.
