Raj’s recent advancement towards Marathi movies in multiplexes met with a speed breaker from Ashok Chavan, our white-collared CM, as usual. The pillage at the multiplexes is still beyond my comprehension and does not appear justified. Neither did Ashok Chavan’s justification about why not to screen Marathi movies in multiplexes at prime time made any sense to me. Chavan says Marathi manoos cannot afford the highly priced tickets of multiplexes, and that a single day expense at a multiplex is beyond Marathi viewer’s reach. This is a necessitous king's mentality.
That is not entirely true Mr. Chavan!
The same Marathi manoos has the capability to spend on the movie, and he does it on a SRK or Aamir or a Bachchan movie, we often observe.
Simply because, the Bollywood is more presentable and entertaining, which unfortunately is not the case with our Marathi movies. Also, Bollywood movies have a wider exposure, and high budgets for marketing & promotion. Most Marathi movies have to sadly rely on the grants that Government provides, which is a meager amount of Rs. 25 lacs. It would be better if the cultural affairs department of your ministry concentrates on strategies to improve the quality, (and quantity) of Marathi movies, instead of commenting on the financial capacity of Marathi manoos, making him look of a mediocre stature.
I would like to bring a similar opinion to the notice of Raj. Ransacking the multiplexes may not go well with the Marathi viewer, what he needs is not additional slots but quality movies which will be worth spending Rs. 150-200. Stir and agitate a campaign to urge the Marathi filmmakers to make better movies; once the quality improves, multiplexes will inevitably provide adequate slots.
In recent times, it is very rare that a movie like “Harishchandrachi Factory” or “Natrang” or “Jogwa” or “Gabhiricha Paus” is made. Mahesh Manjrekar’s “Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho”, though based on similar genres of “Taare Zameen Par” and “3 Idiots”, the latter were much better in conveying a message and presentation. Neither did “Shwaas” impress me, it was an over-hyped emotional melodrama; if “Maaherchi Saadi” was made today, probably it would have made to the Oscars too.
Most certainly, it seems unlikely that we will able to create the magic of V. Shantaram, Raja Paranjpe, Bhalji Pendharkar, Anant Mane (Tamasha based movie specialist), Raj Dutt, and so on. The breed degraded in quality ever since the advent of Dada Kondke, who spoiled film making and its entire sensitivity, and the offshoots like Ashok Saraf, Mahesh Kothare, Bharat Jadhav, Makarand Anaspure, Santosh Jadhav, etc still continue to haunt us.
While it is easy to blame Bollywood for the decline of Marathi theatre and cinema, our cultural ministry and film makers cannot have a free hand. There was a time when Bollywood gang was afraid of our Marathi theatre artists; Nilu Phule and Shreeram Lagoo, for example, were a tremor for Bachchans and Dilip Kumars. However, Bollywood overruled everything, manipulated and today you will see a Marathi artist as a “kaam wali bai” or “kachra wala” or “havaldaar”or a so called superstar of Marathi films as a Nokar of entrant Salman Khan.
Few Talpades, Kulkarnis, Dixits, Gowarikers do get lucky though.
So, my dear Honourable Ashok Chavan and Respected Raj Thackeray, let us turn our focus to a good cause to improve the quality of theatre and cinema, instead of justifying the means, which seep through a rational mind with great difficulty.
In all good hope of revival of Marathi cinema’s golden era.
That is not entirely true Mr. Chavan!
The same Marathi manoos has the capability to spend on the movie, and he does it on a SRK or Aamir or a Bachchan movie, we often observe.
Simply because, the Bollywood is more presentable and entertaining, which unfortunately is not the case with our Marathi movies. Also, Bollywood movies have a wider exposure, and high budgets for marketing & promotion. Most Marathi movies have to sadly rely on the grants that Government provides, which is a meager amount of Rs. 25 lacs. It would be better if the cultural affairs department of your ministry concentrates on strategies to improve the quality, (and quantity) of Marathi movies, instead of commenting on the financial capacity of Marathi manoos, making him look of a mediocre stature.
I would like to bring a similar opinion to the notice of Raj. Ransacking the multiplexes may not go well with the Marathi viewer, what he needs is not additional slots but quality movies which will be worth spending Rs. 150-200. Stir and agitate a campaign to urge the Marathi filmmakers to make better movies; once the quality improves, multiplexes will inevitably provide adequate slots.
In recent times, it is very rare that a movie like “Harishchandrachi Factory” or “Natrang” or “Jogwa” or “Gabhiricha Paus” is made. Mahesh Manjrekar’s “Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho”, though based on similar genres of “Taare Zameen Par” and “3 Idiots”, the latter were much better in conveying a message and presentation. Neither did “Shwaas” impress me, it was an over-hyped emotional melodrama; if “Maaherchi Saadi” was made today, probably it would have made to the Oscars too.
Most certainly, it seems unlikely that we will able to create the magic of V. Shantaram, Raja Paranjpe, Bhalji Pendharkar, Anant Mane (Tamasha based movie specialist), Raj Dutt, and so on. The breed degraded in quality ever since the advent of Dada Kondke, who spoiled film making and its entire sensitivity, and the offshoots like Ashok Saraf, Mahesh Kothare, Bharat Jadhav, Makarand Anaspure, Santosh Jadhav, etc still continue to haunt us.
While it is easy to blame Bollywood for the decline of Marathi theatre and cinema, our cultural ministry and film makers cannot have a free hand. There was a time when Bollywood gang was afraid of our Marathi theatre artists; Nilu Phule and Shreeram Lagoo, for example, were a tremor for Bachchans and Dilip Kumars. However, Bollywood overruled everything, manipulated and today you will see a Marathi artist as a “kaam wali bai” or “kachra wala” or “havaldaar”or a so called superstar of Marathi films as a Nokar of entrant Salman Khan.
Few Talpades, Kulkarnis, Dixits, Gowarikers do get lucky though.
So, my dear Honourable Ashok Chavan and Respected Raj Thackeray, let us turn our focus to a good cause to improve the quality of theatre and cinema, instead of justifying the means, which seep through a rational mind with great difficulty.
In all good hope of revival of Marathi cinema’s golden era.
Comments
But, I did like Shwaas..Thought it was beautiful..Most of the credit of course goes to Arun Nalawade whom I absolutely fell in love with...for his sheer acting skills & the ability to depict pain in his eyes..
Haven't been much of a follower of Marathi films, so can't comment on their deteriorating quality!
Your thought?
It looked like Marathi cinema was getting a new life but it was just a dream, it faded away soon.
Anand Rokade