See-Saw Films Acquires Rights to the Saroo Brierley Story

7:07 PM PST 2/6/2013 by Pip Bulbeck

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The producers of "The Kings Speech" are planning a feature based on Brierley's autobiography, which tells how he used Google Earth and childhood memories to find his Indian birth mother after a 25-year separation

SYDNEY - See-Saw Films has secured the rights to the yet-to-be published autobiography of Indian –born Australian-raised Saroo Brierley, who came to worldwide attention last year after reuniting with his birth mother in India, having tracked her down, using just Google Earth and childhood memories of his hometown, 25 years after being separated from her.

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Brierley was adopted by a couple in Tasmania after being separated from his family in the Indian town of Khanwa and finding himself alone in Calcutta, 1500 kilometers away, at age 5.

His autobiography will be published by Penguin later this year.

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“As a filmmaker, Saroo’s life story is irresistible. The moment we heard it, we knew it had all the elements that make for great cinema. There is perhaps no greater human drive that the desire to find out who we are and to know our mothers. This, along with the incredible contrast between of our high tech world and the streets of Calcutta, make for an unforgettable story,” See Saw principals Emile Sherman and Iain Canning said in a statement.

See-Saw is partnering on the film with local talent and production group Sunstar Entertainment which represents Brierley, who will act as a consultant on the film.

Sunstar Entertainment ceo Andrew Fraser said: ““Saroo’s story is one of courage, perseverance and triumph and we look forward to working with the team behind The King’s Speech to bring this amazing project to the big screen.”

“I’m a little humbled that my story is being made into a movie and I know it is in great hands with Sunstar and See-Saw. I’m looking forward to working closely with the production team in my capacity as a consultant on the project,” Brierley added:

Sunstar Entertainment, formed in 2010 by Andrew Fraser, Daniel Starling and Shahen Mekertichian, are in production on True Spirit, the story of Jessica Watson, who in 2010 became the youngest person ever to sail solo around the world, non-stop and unassisted. It is slated for release at the end of 2013. Paramount Pictures Australia has acquired domestic distribution rights.

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Sunstar Entertainment represents both Watson and Brierley.

See-Saw has just completed production on Jane Campion’s six-part television series Top of the Lake and is currently in production on Tracks, a film directed by John Curran and starring Mia Wasikowska, based on Robyn Davidson’s solo trek across Australia with her camels and dogs.