My dear Co-travellers,

Road To Nara has been my Laboratory for sharing my life experiences as a a Writer, as a Documentarian and as an Educator for sometime now. And ever since I started writing here I have tried to bring in my understandings from any walk of life that spoke to me ever. Be it my Travels, from my School, My Yogic or the Spiritual way of being, my experiences with nature, The Himalayas and many a times about the Art world, Primarily Sharing from the lives of Writers and Photographers.

Also Read: Children of War and a Photographic Journey into the Parallel Universe

And all my co-travellers here, who visit this space, many a ones whose views I cherish who bring their own world to make this space a little more chirpier and happier. This Special Edition goes out to each one of you with whom I have ever interacted.

This week, I am sharing about a film that shaped something unexplainable in me, that I think gave me a perspective on how deep and beautifully films can hit you. It was SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. I watched Shawshank as a teenager during one late night, it had finished around 3 A.M. had taken my sleep away, needless to say I was looking into the oblivion like an Owl. It was one of those films that gave me some of my first supernatural emotions. And no matter how many times I go back and watch a scene from this movie and hear myself saying nothing and staying in silence, absorbing it. I have found no other alternative to it. There is no comparison of this film to any other, for that matter comparison in my life, do not exist.

SOME INTERESTING SECRETS FROM THE SET OF SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

September 23, 1994 saw the limited release of what today is the number 1 movie on IMDB.

After finishing the script for the movie, Darabont took “The Shawshank Redemption” to Castle Rock, the production company you might remember from “Seinfeld.” Rob Reiner, one of the cofounders of Castle Rock, loved the script. In fact, he loved it so much that he wanted to direct it himself. He offered Darabont a couple million for the script, but Darabont held steadfast that he wanted to direct.

The look of “Shawshank” is a big part of its success. You can thank cinematographer Roger Deakins for that. Considered one of the all-time best at his chosen profession, he has been nominated for 15 Oscars, winning twice. Deakins is a longtime collaborator of the Coen Brothers, which is how Tim Robbins met them. When he took on the role of Andy, Robbins recommended Deakins to Darabont.

“The Shawshank Redemption” is now a beloved movie. That was not the case at first, though. In fact, “Shawshank” made only $16 million in its initial run before being pulled. Given that the movie cost $25 million to make, that was a disaster. However, the film would get a re-release and an international release that got the film up to $58.3 in lifetime box office. Even so, for a film this popular, that’s surprisingly bad.

The prison was the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, which had closed. The same prison was also used in the films Air Force One and Tango and Cash, as well as the TV show, House.

Dennis Baker, who had been the assistant to the warden of the Ohio State Reformatory in real life, has a cameo appearance in the scene where Tommy Williams is brought to Shawshank.

You might not believe that the number of people who walked away from playing Andy Dufrense is amazing – Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, James Gandolfini. At least Tom Hanks was busy shooting for Forrest Gump.

The makers wanted to use a Mustang, keeping it in line with the time of 1965 – when Andy escapes, but they were unable to get the car in time. So they used a 1969 Pontiac car. A glitch in the matrix as some people say.

Red’s cell number is 237 – the same as the room number in The Shining. Though the origin of both stories is Stephen King, the number is not used in either books.

A representative from the ASPCA (anti-Animal cruelty guys) told the filmmakers they couldn’t use a live wax worm and only a worm that died of natural causes. Director is said to have quoted “You’ll do an autopsy now?” They ended up with a wax worm made out of baby food.

If Frank Darabont had his way, this would have been the final shot of the movie with Red getting into a bus and heading towards Mexico and an ambiguous ending. But Castle Rock executives asked him to conclude with Red and Andy meeting. Thank You Castle Rock!

This scene took over 9 hours to shoot with Morgan Freeman repeatedly throwing the ball and catching it. The next day Morgan Freeman showed up on the set with his arm in a sling

Andy Dufrense asks Red, why is he called Red – to which Red responds “Maybe its because I’m Irish.” This is in response to the fact that in the original novella Red is a middle-aged Irishman. Frank Darabont had envisaged only Morgan Freeman as Red.

In King’s original novella, the character of Red was white and described as a middle-aged Irishman. However, the producers really wanted Morgan Freeman so the part was rewritten as an African American. However, before that decision was made, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood both auditioned for the role.

The mugshot of a young Red that is glimpsed briefly in the film is actually not a young Morgan Freeman. The director used a picture of his son for the sequence. No wonder they didn’t look anything alike.

Morgan Freeman’s son also has a double role in the movie. He is seen in the scene when Andy Dufrense enters the prison for the first time and also as a mugshot of the young Red. Interestingly, he has a blink and you miss cameo in Se7en that was released in 1995.

The film is based on “Rita Hayworth and the shawshank redemption.” The name of Rita Hayworth was removed so that people wouldn’t think it was a biopic of Rita Hayworth. In fact Frank Darabont got many calls from actresses – if they could be considered to play Rita Hayworth.

In fact you may not realise but only two women speak in the whole movie: One, Karen type complains about Brooks’s lack of grocery clerk skills and the other woman helps Andy at a bank.

Frank Darabont, the director has 2 cameos in the film. Both scenes, only hands.

This film was narrated by the voice of God Morgan Freeman. Hard as it may be to believe, this is the first time he had done it. They recorded the narration in 40 minutes, before shooting, to gauge the rhythm. Then had to re-recorded as a hiss could not be removed.


The novella uses Jayne Mansfield, Linda Ronstadt, Hazel Court and Rita Hayworth. In the film just three feature: Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and Racquel Welch as posters in the cell.

In one of the more powerful scenes in the film, the character Red finds a letter from Andy, in a tree, in Buxton, Maine. This scene was actually not shot anywhere near Maine and was filmed in Malabar Farm(Nothing to do with Kerala) State Park in Ohio. We sort of feel deceived with this cinematic trickery!

The white oak tree featured near the end of the movie has fallen down on Pleasant Valley Road near Malabar Farm in Ohio due to strong winds.

Shawshank Redemption was released in Taiwan for some reason with the title 1995: Fantastic. In Finland, the movie is titled Rita Hayworth—The Key To Escape.

Given that Stephen King has an association with the horror genre, Columbia pictures decided not to include his name in any of the marketing of the film.

Clancy Brown played the prison guard Byron Hadley. During his research for the role, he realized that correctional officers were generally good. But he decided to go full retard and become extremely evil.

Stephen King liked the adaptation a lot. But his one criticism is that Andy’s tunnel was too cartoonishly round.

The most unforgettable visual in the entire movie is that of Tim Robbins raising his arms into the air and soaking in the pouring rain after escaping. But it was a disaster to shoot and they only got it correct in their final attempt after which they would’ve given up.

This character was simply called “Fat Ass”. Jon Favreau auditioned for this part and felt horrible to do so. This inspired him to start losing weight.

Red keeps applying for clemency with the Parole board and it keeps getting friendlier each time. After 20 years: “SIT” After 30 years: “Sit Down.” After 40 years: “Please sit down”

The attention to detail in this movie is amazing – towards the end of the movie Andy’s eyebags are getting bigger and bigger indicating that he is spending more time in the night hammering away in his cell.

No other movie keeps reminding us of HOPE in these times.

The music played in the iconic “Opera” Scene that is also about hope is a portion of Mozart’s even more iconic Le Nozze di Figaro https://youtube.com/watch?v=fwSNMibfaRg

Have you seen this Film? If yes, do write what was it like for you? And also please  mention your all time favorite films?

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Thank you


If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste

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I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly

As a co-traveller, will take you through the Ten Lessons I learnt from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.

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You might also like to know about My Little School Project.

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