SBS Australia to Screen "Seduced by Sai Baba"Posted: February 5, 2004Author: Barry PittardEmail: bpittard@beachaccess.com.auSBS Australia, which many regard as the world's leading multicultural television and radio broadcaster, will air the documentary "Seduced By Sai Baba" - Thursday, February 12, 2004 at 8.30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Non-English content in the film will be sub-titled in English.The 54-minute documentary is from Denmark's national television and radio broadcaster DR. First broadcast on January 30, 2002, it has been screened several times in Denmark and Norway.The program notice mentions the Sathya Sai Baba movement's purchase of the famous Arresødal castle in Copenhagen, which was to have been used as a 'Sai International College'. However, because of the public furore upon the documentary's first airing, the Sai Baba purchasers withdrew from the deal at the last minute, which was accepted by the municipal owners of the castle, who by then already regretted the sale contract.DR's Director, Christian Nissen, stood by the professional integrity of the producers, and a series of litigation cases and various threats by leading Sathya Sai Baba leaders Thorbjörn Meyer Jørgen Trygved (Chairman of the ‘Sai International School’ fund board) repeatedly failed in the Danish law courts.
Media Enquiries: The publicist for "Seduced by Sai Baba" is Stella Katsaros:
Ph: International: 61) 2 9430 3796. In Australia: 02 9430 3796
stella.katsaros@sbs.com.auThe program advertisement below is also available at the SBS website: http://www.sbs.com.au/whatson/index.php3?progdate=12:02:2004DOCUMENTARY - SEDUCED BY SAI BABA
This program follows an investigation into alleged sexual abuse of young male devotees by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, an influential Eastern guru. Denmark's Radio (DR) follows a group of Danes to the Indian city of Puttaparthi to visit Sai Baba's ashram and visit three continents in an attempt to investigate charges against Sai Baba of trickery and sexual abuse of minors. This powerful guru has millions of devotees worldwide and his influence reaches right to the top of the political scene and the media. In Denmark, where the Sai organisation can receive tax-deductible donations as a recognised religious society, they have bought a castle, and in Puttaparthi Baba has built private hospitals, a planetarium, his own airport, a music school and higher learning colleges. DR was not allowed to interview Baba or film in the ashram, so this documentary relies heavily on films supplied by former disciples. In their investigation of claims that Sai Baba's so-called "miracles" are nothing but sleight of hand - they engaged a Danish conjurer who, supported by video clips of Baba in action, explains these "miracles" as mere tricks. Sai's devotees include famous actors and politicians from around the globe. (In Danish, Swedish and English, English subtitles) M (S, A) WS
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