The incredible story ofIndian-born Australian Sarao Brierley inspires the Hollywood blockbuster Lion

left him.

BYKIRA SPUCYSTAHAR

Alone and frightened. The young boy,just five years old,waits for his brother to return. Thinking his brotheris on board, the boy climbs aboard awaiting train which takeshim thousands of kilometres across India.

He lives on thestreetsof Kolkata for severalweeks,farfromhome,barely surviving.

UrbanIndia is not kind to yetanother child beggar.

But luck shines on the young boy. He findshimself at anorphanage. Adoptedby an Australian couple,John and SueBrierley,thelittle boy grows up in Tasmania.

Twenty-five years later,haunted by memories,hepainstakingly pieces cogerher railway lines andsnippets of memory, using Google Earth to track down and reunite withhis home town andbirth mother.

The story of Sa.rooBrierley and his remarkable journey, first to Australia and then rerurningto Indiaona quest to find his birthmother,is nowwell-known."It's nor norma�"Brierley admits.''Ir'sabsurdreally."

Firstwritten as an autobiographical book, ALong llV�yHome, the incredible story is nowthe subject of a newHollywoodfilm, Lio11, directed by Australia's Garth Davis, starringDev Patel and Nicole Kidman.

Brierley never forgot his Indian family, and tl1ememories of his tin1e in lndia never

"Itwas definitely scary. I don't think those events you couldeverforget. I think it'sscarred inmy memory,"Brierley tells TndianLink. "Thosememorieswere daunting,but ultimately chat intense memory iswhathelped me findmy way horne.Some peoplewouldgo,'Ymtmust have been so traumatised', but I think I was quire resilient. Iwasn'ttaughthowto decrypt it.I neverhad therapy or anything like mac.Itwasleftto mecomake a decision aboutwhatI thoughtabout it,how co process it."

Resilienceis a key themein Briedey's story. Hewrote the book asa personal reAectionin an attempt to help andinspire otherswhohave becomeseparatedfrom their family.

''I had been carryingthisweight on my shoulders, bu[ I achieved, I did it," Brierley says. "Itwas aboutsharingthat knowledge."

The harrowing, against-tl1e-odds scory has captivated audi.ences.

"This has been apowerfuljourney and awhirlwindtimeforme," Brierley says.

"As I stepback, I realisetherearethese themes- everythinghappensfor a reason. Therewas this nostalgia.Iwouldhear songs that,vould bringmemoriesback. Watchingchildren play innuclearfamilies would bringmemories back. I had lotsof dreamsontl1eastralproject side of things.

I had these out of body experienceswhere I wouldmaterialise on the streetsof my old hometown.That kep[tl1ememories a.live, perpentaliy inmy mind."

ReAectingonthe powerful ability of tl1e bra.intoadapt,Brierley says, "The bra.in is a fascinatingor!,>aninstilled witl1 adaptability,instinct, emotions,ability to wander. I followed that and led co my accomplishment.Thiswas just my destiny."

Movingto Australia,growing upin Tasmania,Brierley sayshe never really felt singled out or different.

"l minktl1atwas there,but 1wasjust so used cochangeand transition. One minute Iwaswitl1 my family. The nextIwason a train,wantingfor,searchingformy family. Then IwasinKolkata and thenin Australia. Change just seems to bewithme,"hesays. "Therewasn'tmuch of an issue. I didn't registerwhatpeople thoughtof me. Ijust tookit a dayat atimeand wasgrateful tobe ina lovingfa.nlily."

Brierley was involved in the script development of thefilm, but then left it up to the directorand actors to tellhis story. "lfyou'vegot agreat script,it'sup to everyone elsetobringit to life."

Hewatched the film for the first time togetherwith his family.

"Iwasholdingontomy seat so hardmy fingernails were diggingimo the leather. I was so enchanted, so enth.ralled. l should befeeling desensitised, bur it feltLike Iwas relivingthewholethingagain.1 couldn't hold those rears in,"Brierley says. "At the endof themoviewea.IIgot up and had a grouphug.My dad turned tome and said,'I didn'trealisehowmuch youwent through.' Wehad talked about it, but tl1isreally showed him."

On the castingof DevPateland Nicole Kidman,Brierley says, "Ithink itwasa good choiceof people. NicoleKidman hasadoptivechildren and DevPatel is an amazingactor -fromSl11111dogNl.i!lio11aire,to Skins, to Chappie, therewas nobody better out there toplay this role.They're both wonderful people, bothon stageandoff stage, full of effervescence andvitality."

Brierley met witl1 Patelover several hours, and the actor also studied l1is character through readinghis book andinternet articles.

"Henailed that Australianaccent," Brierley says. "He personifiesme really well. And my adoptive mother and Nicole Kidman talked alot.Mum'secstatic shegot Nicole to play her."

Asan adoptee himself,Brierley sees the adoptionprocess as"agreat thing" and hopes thegovernmentwill help break down tl1e barriers.

"My parentsjustwantedcohelp achild in need of care andlove instead ofproducing their own,"he says. "They should re-open thegateswhich bave been shutfor a bit. Wecan only wish. Youhavepeople like DeborahLeeFurness and Nicole Kidman tryingcoget things underway.Wecan only hope they help open thosegates.And I hope thismovie portrays tl1actoo.My parents a.re sograteful tohaveus,butI'm even moregratefol for beingwith tbem. Theyhaveshownnothingbur genuine love for me and my brother."

Since reunitingwith his Indian family, Brierley has remrnedto India around 14 times in the past fouryea.rs. Hehas bought his biologicalmothera house and looks after his remainingsiblings. They speak on the phone at least twice a montl1 He says hewould Like to spendmore timein lndia, seeingthecountry,travellingaroundasa courist.

"13eingin India, seeingtheoldstyleof buildings,visitingmy hometown,visiting my biologicalmother, the family home, tl1eorphanage in Kolkaca, it'samental cleanser,"hesays. "At the sametime,my parents arehere in Australia; I know the people, the culture,the language. Iget a bit homesick.Both places are great."