If films like ‘The Lunchbox’, ‘Thithi’, ‘Court’, ‘Killa’ and
‘Margarita with a Straw’ have you completely smitten by the beauty of Indie
cinema, chances are that soon you will be counting two Konkani films in the
list that are aiming completion in the near future. This year, two Konkani
films, ‘Juje’ and ‘Tu Hai Mera Sunday’ have made it to the Work in Progress Lab
at NFDC Film Bazaar. The Work in Progress (WIP) Lab is an editing lab that
gives an opportunity to filmmakers to present their projects in a rough-cut
stage to a panel of international film experts (mentors) for their feedback to
reach and accomplish the final cut. These films would aim at completion only by
mid 2016. Started in 2008, Film Bazaar takes place alongside the International
Film Festival of India and is a place that connects filmmakers with producers,
distributors and critics. It’s a networking event that has helped foster almost
every good, non-mainstream Indian film that one can name.
According to Miling Dhaimade, Director of ‘Tu Hai Mera
Sunday’ (‘THMS’), his film is about a bunch of guys – Arjun, Rashid, Dominic,
Mehernosh and Jayesh, trying to find a place to play football in Mumbai.
Dhaimade says, “I know these guys who play football at Juhu Beach in Mumbai
every Sunday very religiously. One day it struck me how difficult it would be
for them to play football in Mumbai if someone were to ban playing at Juhu
Beach. I mixed this up with my life experiences, my friends, growing up in
Mumbai and ‘THMS’ took shape. In 2014, we decided that the best way to make
this film would be on our own terms, with a really great bunch of actors. And
luckily, the day we decided that, help came from all quarters and from friends,
family and colleagues. ‘THMS’ is about more than just football. It’s about each
guy trying to figure out his own space in life.”
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According to the team, ‘THMS’ is almost near completion. A
few elements like VFX, etc have to be finished and sound design and mixing are
in its final stages. When asked about how much of Goa can one experience in the
film, Dhaimade says, “I’m a Goan by roots, though too much of a Mumbaikar. I
wanted to show the side of Goa rarely seen in mainstream films – largely the
people and their passion for football. We have some amazing footage of Goa –
the open spaces and the way everyone plays football in every nook and corner of
the state.”
The second Konkani film vying for attention and feedback at
NFDC Film Bazaar, ‘Juje’, is about how a terrifying landlord in a small village
in Goa drives Santosh, a stubborn teenager on his own path of self-discovery,
to make a brave and difficult choice.
Speaking about the film, Vinit C, Executive Producer,
‘Juje’, says, “The film was written by Miransha Naik at Whistling Woods
International and it was arguably the best screenplay of that batch. A
mesmerising coming of age tale of a young boy in a village in Goa – a story
that was rooted not only geographically and culturally but also rooted innately
in the way we deal with oppression, be it social, sexual or violent. Neither
Miransha nor the script shies away from telling a story that deals with such
undertones.”
According to the team, the last year was spent in
development and raising funds. The crew shot the film over 40 days in South Goa
with tremendous support from almost every Panchayat, school and the locals.
While the team agrees in unison that the experience of
working on the project was extremely fulfilling, it also came at an expense.
Vinit adds, “Sadly, we lost a few people during the shoot – a dear friend and
actor, who had worked in our short film and was to work with us on this
project, passed away. There were some more deaths and health issues with crew
members or their family members which made it emotionally difficult to carry
on. But thanks to the passion of the people involved, all the crew members
stayed till the last day of the shoot.”
The team is all pumped up and eager to receive all the
support and feedback that it can get at the annual event in Goa. On a parting
note, Vinit says, “NFDC film bazaar has had some really good films come out
over the last couple of years. If we can get anywhere close to the coverage and
the recognition that these films got, we will be well on our way to bringing
Konkani cinema on to the international stage. Oddly, we are of the belief that
the only way for Konkani cinema or projects to be financially and commercially
viable is to have a strong international (universal appeal). It is vital that
they do good business outside India so that we do not have to compromise on
quality for the sake of money. It’s a sort of win-win scenario. Make quality
cinema that can travel and sustain itself internationally and domestically and
everyone gets to enjoy it.”
