Rahul Koli of ‘Chhello Show’, India's entry to Oscars, dies of leukemia at 10
Koli played Manu, one of the friends of the child protagonist, in the coming-of-age film.
By ET Online | Updated:
Agencies
For the Koli family, October 14 is a red-letter day. That would be the day where they get to see their son Rahul for the first time on the big screen. However it would also be the last time they see him hale, hearty and full of life.
Rahul Koli who was a part of the cast in ‘Chhello Show’ India’s official entry to the 95th Academy Awards, breathed his last on October 2. He was 10. Koli was reportedly suffering from leukemia.
His family held a prayer meeting at their native Hapa village near Jamnagar on Monday. “He was so happy and would often tell us that our life would change after October 14 ( the release date of the movie). But he left us before that,” said a teary- eyed Ramu Koli (Rahul’s father) to The Times of India
Koli was getting treated at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (CGRI) in Ahmedabad after he was diagnosed with blood cancer or leukemia. According to his father, the family came to know about his disease after the shooting was wrapped up. Koli displayed symptoms of what appeared to be a simple fever, but it sustained despite medication. “On Sunday, he had his breakfast. Sometime later he came down with a fever and vomited blood thrice. And just like that my child was no more. But our family will watch his movie together on October 14, “ revealed a devastated Ramu.
“Rahul was the eldest of our children,” added his father. “We are poor, but his dream meant everything to us. We had to sell our rickshaw for his treatment. When the film crew came to know what happened, they got us back the rickshaw,” he was quoted as saying to the English daily.
In what seems like a cruel twist of fate, the movie’s opening would coincide with the 13th day of his death, called ‘termu’ in Gujarat when some post-death rituals are performed.
Koli played Manu, the son of a railway signalman and a close friend of the film’s lead character Samay (played by Bhavin Rabari).
Directed by US based director Pan Nalin aka Nalin Pandya, the movie is semi autobiographical and explores his growing up years in Saurashtra and discovering the magic of films. The film traces the journey of Samay, a nine year old boy who begins a lifelong love affair with cinema when he bribes his way into a dilapidated movie hall and spends a summer watching movies from the projection booth.
Nalin's film was chosen over more well-known contenders like Rajamouli's 'RRR', Vivek Agnihotri's 'The Kashmir Files', R Madhavan's directorial debut 'Rocketry' etc.
Rahul Koli who was a part of the cast in ‘Chhello Show’ India’s official entry to the 95th Academy Awards, breathed his last on October 2. He was 10. Koli was reportedly suffering from leukemia.
His family held a prayer meeting at their native Hapa village near Jamnagar on Monday. “He was so happy and would often tell us that our life would change after October 14 ( the release date of the movie). But he left us before that,” said a teary- eyed Ramu Koli (Rahul’s father) to The Times of India
Koli was getting treated at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (CGRI) in Ahmedabad after he was diagnosed with blood cancer or leukemia. According to his father, the family came to know about his disease after the shooting was wrapped up. Koli displayed symptoms of what appeared to be a simple fever, but it sustained despite medication. “On Sunday, he had his breakfast. Sometime later he came down with a fever and vomited blood thrice. And just like that my child was no more. But our family will watch his movie together on October 14, “ revealed a devastated Ramu.
“Rahul was the eldest of our children,” added his father. “We are poor, but his dream meant everything to us. We had to sell our rickshaw for his treatment. When the film crew came to know what happened, they got us back the rickshaw,” he was quoted as saying to the English daily.
In what seems like a cruel twist of fate, the movie’s opening would coincide with the 13th day of his death, called ‘termu’ in Gujarat when some post-death rituals are performed.
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Koli played Manu, the son of a railway signalman and a close friend of the film’s lead character Samay (played by Bhavin Rabari).
Directed by US based director Pan Nalin aka Nalin Pandya, the movie is semi autobiographical and explores his growing up years in Saurashtra and discovering the magic of films. The film traces the journey of Samay, a nine year old boy who begins a lifelong love affair with cinema when he bribes his way into a dilapidated movie hall and spends a summer watching movies from the projection booth.
Nalin's film was chosen over more well-known contenders like Rajamouli's 'RRR', Vivek Agnihotri's 'The Kashmir Files', R Madhavan's directorial debut 'Rocketry' etc.
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