Patna, Nov 20 (IANS): Shooting of the first documentary film on legendary British author George Orwell began at his birthplace in Motihari town of Bihar Wednesday, the head of a committee dedicated to the commemoration of the author said.

"This is the first time that a documentary is being shot on George Orwell, to draw attention to his birth place and promote it as a tourism destination," said Debapriya Mukherjee, who heads the George Orwell Commemorative Committee.

Mukherjee said the documentary film was directed by noted filmmaker Vishwajeet Mukherjee.

"The documentary would focus on Orwell's birthplace in Motihari, and the close relationship the author had with Mahatma Gandhi and his first Satyagraha movement," he said.

Motihari is the district headquarters of East Champaran, the site of Gandhi's first Satyagraha or rights movement in 1917, which was a protest against the exorbitant taxes imposed on indigo farmers by the British government. That movement came to be known as the Champaran Satyagraha.

Vishwajeet Mukherjee is assisted by a team of technical experts from Mumbai. The documentary will be of 25 minutes' duration.

The director said he has used material from the library of Delhi University in his research. He also contacted members of Orwell's family living in England, and interviewed them for the documentary.

Debapriya Mukherjee told IANS over telephone that his film would focus on the neglected birthplace of George Orwell.

The state government has declared the house in which Orwell was born June 25, 1903, a monument under the Ancient Monuments Act.

The house now lies dilapidated, and stray cattle graze in its premises.

"The structure has become a hub of anti-social elements, drunkards, gamblers, urchins and beggars," a district official said.

Eric Arthur Blair shot to fame under the pen name of George Orwell in the mid-20th century with his novels "Animal Farm" and "1984".

Orwell's father was in the Indian Civil Service, serving the British colonial government.