A new documentary exploring the life and legacy of St. Teresa of Kolkata premiered on September 5, 2026, coinciding with her feast day, attracting more than 200 attendees, including many from the Missionaries of Charity.
An international documentary titled “Mother Teresa — Prophet of Compassion” premiered on September 5, 2026, in Kolkata, India, coinciding with the feast day of St. Teresa of Kolkata. The screening took place at the auditorium of St. Xavier’s College, where more than 200 attendees gathered, including numerous nuns and novices from the Missionaries of Charity.
The film, produced by journalist and author Anto Akkara, was introduced by Archbishop Elias Frank of Kolkata, who commended Akkara for his dedication to showcasing lesser-known aspects of Mother Teresa’s life and work. “We are here, dear friends, not just to see what he has done, but to be inspired by Mother’s work,” said Archbishop Frank, highlighting Akkara’s passion for making Mother Teresa’s contributions known to a broader audience.
Background of the Documentary
Anto Akkara, who has a long-standing relationship with the Missionaries of Charity, first met Mother Teresa in 1995 during what he described as a “comprehensive” interview. Since then, he has visited Kolkata over two dozen times for various reporting assignments, particularly following Mother Teresa’s death in 1997. The documentary was conceived as the congregation approached its 75th anniversary, with support from Atmadarshan TV in Indore.
The new 66-minute documentary builds upon an earlier version produced for the congregation’s 75th Foundation Day in October 2025. In reworking the film, Akkara added over a dozen new episodes and international accounts, enhancing the narrative of Mother Teresa’s journey from her beginnings in India to the global expansion of the Missionaries of Charity.
Highlights of Mother Teresa’s Work
The documentary chronicles significant events in Mother Teresa’s life, including her early work in Patna in 1948, Jharkhand in 1959, and New Delhi in 1961. It also addresses the challenges faced by the Missionaries of Charity, such as the tragic killings of sisters in Yemen in 1998 and 2016, the expulsion of the congregation from Nicaragua, and the sisters’ decision to remain in conflict zones like Gaza and Ukraine.
Among the notable figures featured in the film is renowned photographer Raghu Rai. The documentary also includes historical references, such as the praise for Mother Teresa from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru upon the opening of a Shishu Bhavan building in New Delhi.
Addressing Controversies
Akkara emphasized that the film aims to challenge perceptions that Mother Teresa’s charitable efforts were primarily aimed at religious conversion. Instead, it illustrates her dedication to serving the poorest, including children, orphans, individuals with disabilities, and those afflicted by leprosy. The documentary includes lesser-known stories that highlight the extensive nature of her humanitarian work.
For instance, it reveals that the iconic blue-striped white saris worn by the Missionaries of Charity are woven by individuals affected by leprosy at the congregation’s center in Titagarh, dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. The film also recounts Mother Teresa’s advocacy for planting trees at a leprosy home in Delhi and her decision to decline an invitation to the 1993 World Youth Day to focus on humanitarian efforts in Arunachal Pradesh.
Moreover, the documentary shares a story about a raffle organized to raise funds for a leprosy hospital at Shanti Nagar, featuring a popemobile reportedly donated to Mother Teresa after the 1964 World Eucharistic Congress in Mumbai. It also recounts her request to the Nobel Committee to cancel the customary banquet associated with the Nobel Prize, redirecting those funds to aid orphans in Kolkata.
Legacy and Respect Across Boundaries
The film encapsulates the respect that Mother Teresa garnered across various religious and political lines, receiving appreciation from notable figures such as former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and former prime ministers Inder Kumar Gujral and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It also details her relationship with Jyoti Basu, the former Marxist chief minister of West Bengal, who once remarked that she challenged his beliefs, saying, “This lady makes me a bad Marxist, making me believe in Godliness.”
In an illustration of her outreach beyond religious boundaries, a Missionaries of Charity center near Ranchi was named “Radharani Convent” in honor of a Hindu woman who provided land for a leprosy home in 1973.
Conclusion
Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in 1910 in present-day North Macedonia, arrived in India in 1929 as a Loreto Sister and founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. Since its inception, the congregation has expanded globally, dedicated to serving some of the world’s most impoverished communities. The new documentary portrays this expansion as a movement aimed at “globalizing compassion and care” while remaining firmly rooted in the founder’s unwavering commitment to the destitute.
