Goa’s very own Rajesh R Pednekar won his 2nd National award for Kaajro a film that explores the corrosive effect of various kinds of discrimination on people around the world. The Konkani film is set in a village deep in Valpoi. Downtrodden people have to face opposition due to the color of their skin, caste or creed or due to not having enough of money. This movie, Rajesh said was not only representing what was happening in India but across the world.
Providing details of the shoot he said the ambition was to make an uncut film. A two hour film it ended with one technical cut. The cast and crew were in rehearsals for 25 days. This involved the entire village because the camera would be going everywhere. It would be in the stream when the actors were in it and would move away with them. It was also important to ensure no shadow fell when the shot was on and no one unnecessary would come in the shot. Rajesh said he was creative producer and was responsible for the production and had to handle all the challenges that came their way.
He said “There were mud roads which would have affected the smooth movement of the camera. I got it repaired, we painted certain houses and constructed a hut where the main protagonists essayed by Vitthal Kale and Jyoti Panchal Bagkar. We also took actors from the village. We had to shoot between 9.30 and 11.30 in the morning because of the position of the sun, because after that shadows would be visible which we did not want.” They rehearsed everyday and Rajesh said he was involved in the script suggesting changes from the very beginning. He laughed and said he was also involved in the finances which were generated privately. He hoped the government schemes would now come in to play and help him out. He said the money for his earlier movie K Sera Sera which won an award in the 64th National film awards had not been paid as yet. He said like others he was doing it for the love of Konkani film. He however bemoaned the fact the government just did not care.
The film had been selected for Mami the film festival in Mumbai, the film festival in Bengaluru and it was screened at IFFI in 2019. At the national awards, he said they met with juries and they were very impressed with the concept as well as with the way it was presented. A specific scene caught their attention. He said “While we were rehearsing I noticed a Tata vehicle being used to transport a buffalo. I used it to show the pathetic lives the downtrodden had to endure. The protagonist has to carry the body of his wife on his back and in that shot I show a vehicle transporting a buffalo. The animal seems to have all the rights and everything going for it but if you are a poor person or a low caste person, then only god can help you”. When the protagonist requests the headman for land to bury his wife, he is told that land is precious and it would make sense if he could take her and bury her under the Kajro tree. The tree which is bitter is an apt metaphor for the bitter lives lived by these people. The movie was produced by de Goan studio owned by Gayatri and Rajesh R Pednekar.
When asked what next was in the pipeline, he said they were working on a script which would be a period film. It would be in Konkani and would be for a national and international audience. They were presently also working on its budget and he said once he got into a project, he would ensure it would happen.
Given that he has won a second national award, one can only wish him all the very best for the future.
