21 Feb 2019 | 04:05am IST
Vaalor: Inspiration is in the air for Konkani cinema
The growth script of Konkani cinema is riveting. In fact with movie after movie drawing audiences who didn’t watch Konkani movies, a film on Konkani cinema of today would be as compelling. Café gets into the box seat
Nicole Remedios
When you look at wonderful
Konkani movies like Juze,
Nachom-ia- Kumpasar,
Amizaade, O Maria, Home sweet Home, K Sera Sera and the latest ones ‘Questao de
Confusao’, FAKE and now Kantaar they all have played a major role in bringing a
diverse culture along with fun and meaningful expression in Konkani Cinema.
Over the years, the industry has changed drastically bringing positive outcomes
with the number of good stories and plots coming from new Konkani writers.
When a film like Amizade broke the record of
many Bollywood films, most people of Goa and even Maharashtra took notice. “The
technique is simple, all you have to do is add a bit of masala people often
look out for- action, drama, groovy music, and great plotline.”, says Aniket
Naik, Director Amizade
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
Cinema is a slice of life that everyone has a right to
partake in. In the present scenario, Konkani films have built diversity.
Earlier there was a gap between the communities where people assumed only
Catholics to watch Konkani films and the Hindu community watching the Marathi
serials. But today a number of people enjoy the diversity of what Konkani films
has brought to the world.
Technically, the development of Konkani
Cinema began as a trend after Nachom-ia- Kumpasar.
Dr Meenacshi Martins, a Psychiatrist and
Actress felt that Nachom-ia- Kumpasar ( a movie she acted in) was a class apart
and drew audiences for its grandiosity and music. With the artistic power of
the film and some of the best music it provided, the audience paved a new
direction for the filmmakers.
Lately, film festivals and the grants that
the Government provides encourage new comers to make films. There’s something
else that has changed. Earlier people watched Konkani films only during those
film festivals, but things have changed in the these years especially with a
movie like Amizade and ‘Questao de Confusao’ , which increased the attention
bandwith to larger and more diverse audiences, with humour as an added spice.
Writer cum Producer of Questao de Confusao,
Suchitra Narvekar understands the likes and dislikes of the audience in today’s
world. She strives to target the youth with something humorous. She also
describes how Konkani films were earlier known to be more theatrical diverting
the minds of individuals’ into thinking that Konkani films are boring.
“We cannot take Konkani cinema lightly,
people always thought Konkani films are like tiatr, but with some of the new
contemporary films that have come out including mine, I believe people are not
looking at Konkani films as tiatr in a different form”
Movies are being produced and filmed better.
The movie Fake has shown some striking cinematography talent which made the
movie a super-hit. Apart from the script the cinematography drives the entire
power of Konkani films and touched many in and around Goa.
Janet Noronha, the Producer of Kantaar, with
Jackie Shroff in the lead role, says “Like in any other main stream film
industries, we too need to experiment with various genres. The success of
KANTAAR is widening the horizons for both Konkani film makers as well as the
audience”.
BREAKING THE
RECORDS
Culturally, financially and artistically, Konkani cinema
has exploded. A film like O Maria celebrated its Silver Jubilee and ran for 29
weeks at INOX and Osia in 2010 – 2011, while Antarnaad won four National awards
and was houseful for months in Maharashtra in its Marathi version called
Sanvli. This is a rare feat for a Cinema in this age, points out Dr Meenacshi
Martins
She explains, “People came to watch the
films in buses from all over Goa, but all the same, there are transportation
limitations. In remote areas of Eastern Goa, very few people had heard of the
films. Those who knew about the films had no means to come to the cities to
watch them.” She opined that road shows and screenings in interiors of Goa
could attract more people towards Konkani Cinema.
Dattaprasad Shetkar, a brand consultant, who
was part of the team promoting the film Nosha and ‘K Sera Sera’ said filmmakers
in Goa have learnt the technique of releasing a Konkani film in the theater,
other like ESG and Ravindra Bhavan. He also said that the younger generation is
being inspired to deliver new scripts and ideas for entertainment in Konkani
film industry.
Meanwhile Director Aniket Naik, expresses the
need for promotion first in Goa itself, as Goa is a small state. “When the
entire crowd of Goa soaks completely into the charisma of the films being made,
the word will automatically spread everywhere, thereby increasing demands for
films to travel abroad.”
KONKANI CINEMA ACROSS THE SEAS
Cinema is not language bound. When a film has a good
plot, it thrives. Goan Diasporas have been supporting Konkani cinema. All
Konkani speaking communities, in India or abroad would energetically enjoy
viewing the films on media portals online.
“The
producers need to put their films out there to the world. There is such a big
audience in the world that loves regional cinema, its ethos and cultural
significance. Many people search for ‘Enemy?’ on line and call me for the link.
O Maria is available on YouTube, but other films are not, so why not include
them as well?” ,asks Martins
“The
film K Sera Sera gained some serious attention and was screened in different
countries. There was a bountiful reaction from the people who like exploring
Konkani Cinema,” said Shetkar
With a lot
happening in the niche industry, Konkani films are now on the verge of
witnessing a Golden era in years of Cinema.
