Crucible of Fire (2008)

Not many companies in the world have survived for a hundred years, let alone successfully adapted to changing times and grown manifold with the passage of years. One such example is Tata Steel, India's most iconic company, now internationally prominent because of its recent acquisition of Corus, Europe's second largest Steel Company. The story of Tata Steel is an epic saga that unfolds against some of the most significant historical events in India's history, right through the twentieth century. The film depicts this story through the means of a docudrama that introduces the stalwarts of the Tata family, who built the company, as well as the American Consulting Engineer, Charles Page Perin, who pioneered the adventure of setting up a steel mill in the middle of dense tropical forests in North Eastern India. The story spans Tata Steel's trials, tribulations and triumphs as it progresses through the British Raj during Victorian times, the two World Wars, and finally the contemporary era. It climaxes in the drama surrounding the high stakes auction leading to the acquisition of Corus. Apart from Jamshedpur where it all began, the film has been shot on location in London, Pittsburgh in the U.S. and in South-East Asia. The script of the film has been written by Stephen Alter, a novelist of international standing, and the narration has been spoken by the Oscar award- winning British actor Jeremy Irons. Featuring in the film as Sir Dorab Tata is the well known actor Victor Banerjee, and playing Charles Page Perin is the British stage actor Christopher Mellows. The cinematography is by Vijay Khambati and the music has been composed by Zubin Balaporia. The film is produced and directed by Zafar Hai.