The 53rd International Film Festival of India is a great platform
to showcase films as it has the potential to be appreciated by film lovers as
well as people from the film fraternity from India and abroad. Three Goan films
will have this privilege as they will be screened today, November 27. Vardhan
Kamat is especially elated as his two films will be screened back to back
followed by Jyoti Kunkolienkar’s, ‘Goy Swatantryache Homkhan’.
“The White Shirt’ is my eighth short film and ‘Wind Chimes’ is
my ninth short film. However, this is the only second time that my short film
is being screened at IFFI. The first film that was screened was ‘Limits’,” says
Vardhan Kamat, a noted actor and director.
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Speaking about ‘The White Shirt’ which was shot before ‘Wind
Chimes’, Vardhan says, “The White Shirt is about the perception of the society
towards an individual. The film is a journey that will teach us to be our
encouraging selves, no matter the circumstances, as the world will devise ways
to find positives in negatives and negatives within the positives.”
The film is produced by Mayur Surlakar and the story is by
Abhijit Sawant. The film was shot during the Covid lockdown and the team found
it difficult in finding locations as people were hesitant to allow shooting in
their homes. “There is a need of good quality content today and I am sure this
trio of Abhijit Sawant, Mayur Surlakar and Kiran Phayade can make it happen as
they have the drive to do this,” adds Vardhan.
The next film directed by Vardhan is ‘Wind Chimes’. The film
deals with a delicate subject on the ways in which each one of us copes with
our issues, while trying to present a contended face to the world. “My Friend,
William Borges, son of Verona Anthony Borges wanted to do a film on mental
health. I immediately got connected to this idea. The goal is that people who
undergo stress or depressions should forgive themselves. After watching this
film, people will realise how beautiful the life is once you cross the
threshold of the depression,” explains Vardhan about the film produced by
Verona.
Jyoti Kunkoliekar’s ‘Goy Swatantryache Homkhan’ is a 68 minutes
documentary film that focuses on the Goan freedom struggle, right from the 15th
century to 1961. Noted writer and film director, Jyoti had the strong backing
of an accurate account of history with research by historian Prajal
Sakhardande. The film also features interviews by over ten freedom fighters,
all in their 80s and 90s, including three women who joined the struggle.
“Since Goa celebrated 60 years of Liberation, I wanted to work
on this documentary that could highlight the freedom struggle. Unfortunately,
the Covid pandemic delayed the shoots. However, we started shooting in March
and we had a launch of the CD by CM Pramod Sawant in June 18 and since then we
completed the post production with subtitles and receiving the censor
certificate,” says Jyoti.
Besides books, there had been no audio visual documentation of
the freedom struggle in Goa. “There is no documentary to tell the entire
chronological order of the struggle which spanned centuries. The 1583 rebellion
was the first rebellion in Asia against European powers. We even highlighted
Memorials in different parts of the part and their importance,” adds Jyoti.
Post
it’s screening at IFFI, Jyoti hopes to take the film to the younger audience.
“I would like to show this film to school students in schools across Goa so
they get a better understanding of the freedom struggle,” concludes Jyoti.
