Press Release
Sr. Sudha Varghese’s Humanitarian Efforts Head to Big Screen for a Girls’ Karate Movie.
M Street Productions has obtained the worldwide movie rights for the story of humanitarian Sister Sudha Varghese, a member of the order of Sisters of Notre Dame, and recipient of the 2006 Padma Shri Award, an award received by Mother Teresa in 1962.
The untitled script chronicles the courageous journey of Sudha and eight young Musahar girls from the slums of India to Japan to compete in an international karate championship. Overcoming tremendous odds, the girls returned home heroes and brought pride to their community. "I dream of turning India’s poorest girls into agents of change,” said Sudha.
“For us, the movie is ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ meets ‘The Karate Kid.’ It’s a hopeful story of how Sudha's extraordinary leadership gives girls from the bottom of India’s caste system new hope and opportunities. These young women’s triumph was a victory for the whole community”, said screenwriter and M Street partner James J Sclafani.
Sudha started her work with the Musahar girls over three decades ago. According to Sudha, “All their lives, [these girls] were told, ‘you are the last. You are the least. You do not deserve to have.’ They learned very fast to keep quiet, didn’t expect changes and never complained because they thought they deserved their fate.” Sudha, however, has done extraordinary work to change this. She has removed thousands of young women from exploitive farm labor, relocating them to her private schools where the young women are educated and learn karate to increase their confidence and defend themselves against violence and assault.
Sudha has faced violence herself in the thirty years she’s lived in the turbulent Bihar region of India. A good friend and fellow social worker, Sister Valsa John Malamel, was clubbed to death by several thugs hired by the mining company she was opposing. Sudha herself survived an attack on her social services unit. She hid in a potted plant on the roof as a gunman murdered a priest. “Even when I am afraid, I don’t show fear,” said Sudha, who is determined to uplift India’s marginalized girls.
M Street productions was founded by producers Ray Kimsey and Bob Tyson, and screenwriter/producer James J Sclafani who broke into the industry selling a screenplay to Bill Murray. “We want to entertain audiences and tell stories that matter and inspire,” said Kimsey. “Sudha is the most inspiring woman ever,” said M Street partner Bob Tyson. “We are excited to share Sudha's story and know it will be appreciated around the world.”
