English language film ‘The Least Of These’ based on the true story of an Australian missionary martyred in India in 1999 will release on 1st February in the USA and on 1st March in India. It centers the life of Graham Staines who was killed while helping patients along with his two sons in India.
The film stars Stephen Baldwin, Shari Rigby, and Bollywood star Sharman Joshi in lead roles. Aneesh Daniel is the director of the movie.
The film explores the journey of a young journalist Manav Banerjee who moves to the town of Orissa in hope of a better life and the assurance of a productive career with his pregnant wife. There he finds out that local Australian missionary Graham Staines is illegally converting leprosy patients to Christianity. He investigates trying to find witnesses and proof of it for his newspaper.
The synopsis of the film reads, “Based on a true story and shot on location in India, THE LEAST OF THESE beautifully illustrates the power of love, hope, and forgiveness to overcome hate. Aneesh Daniel directs the film, featuring Stephen Baldwin, Shari Rigby, and Bollywood star Sharman Joshi with an original soundtrack including award-winning musical artists such as Michael W. Smith, Nicole C Mullen and Toby Mac.”
Victor Abraham, head of Skypass and the executive producer for the film, said in a statement, “beautifully illustrates the power of love, hope, and forgiveness to overcome hate.”
He added, “It is the very edict of the commandment to love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
The film is shot near Hyderabad in India. Talking about the film Skypass said, “When speculation mounts that Graham Staines (Stephen Baldwin) is illegally proselytizing leprosy patients, Manav agrees to investigate undercover for the newspaper.”
“What Manav finds is a series of revelations that are difficult to fathom and even harder to explain, forcing him to make a choice between his own ambition and the truth.”
Speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Proclaim 2018 conference last year Baldwin had said, “The greatest need for revival in my mind — this is something that the Lord showed me the other day — I got this from the Holy Spirit in prayer time. Every revival has always just been a reminder.”