Ej salasi

"Ej salasi" is a documentary film that traces the life of Zvonko Bogdan, a legendary Serbian singer and guardian of the tamburitza tradition, through the stories behind the songs he wrote-each born from a pivotal moment in his life. The song "Odavno spremam svog mrkova" was written after he learned that the farmstead where he grew up had been torn down. His very first song, "Ej salasi", was inspired by a smoky bus ride from Belgrade back to Sombor after a long night working in a tavern. "Zivot tece u laganom ritmu" was composed in America during the years of sanctions on Yugoslavia, dedicated to his son and all children who are far from their parents. The song "Govori se da me varas" is dedicated to his uncle who passed away early in life, as a tribute to a man he deeply loved and cherished during his childhood. In the film, Zvonko Bogdan, as the narrator, speaks about his uncle who was a cartwright and his father who was a blacksmith, as well as his mother, who was the pillar of the family. He paints a vivid picture of life in Sombor and on the farmstead-a life that was hard, yet rich and meaningful, interwoven with song and tamburitza music that accompanied every aspect of existence. These memories remain deeply etched in his heart. The film weaves together intimate stories told by his collaborators and friends, painting a portrait of a man whose passions-horses, pigeons, disappearing crafts, and a vanishing way of life on the Vojvodina plains-are deeply rooted in a world slowly fading away. Though he once dreamed of becoming an actor, fate led him to music, and he became a voice of a people and a time.