The first take, or shot towards language cinema with audiences who were
earlier watching either Konkani or Marathi has been taken of late. As we wait
for the Goa Marathi festival to take off later this month, the walls between
Konkani and Marathi cinema, though not broken, have the best chance to be.
In order to break these walls down, in the
recent years, Konkani cinema has been coming up with different plots and
stories that would appeal to a wider audience rather than be limited to a
particular community. Some examples include ‘Questao de Confusao’, ‘Amizade’,
‘Glory’, ‘Kantaar’ and ‘Miranda House’.
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‘Questao de Confusao’ broke the record after
it featured different communities, a catholic family and a Hindu Marathi
speaking family. The movie drew the attention of many Marathi speaking people
in Goa.
Suchita Narvekar, Producer and Writer of
‘Questao de Confusao’, admits that her intention was to get a good amount of
audience who watch Marathi films to watch the film. “In Goa, people don’t look
for glamour; they are drawn to good stories and we need people to watch more
Konkani films because unless they do so, Konkani cinema won’t excel,” says
Suchita.
“Hence, if the story is interesting, lovers
of either Konkani ort Marathi films wouldn’t mind watching these films. You
have to write the script in way that caters to all” she adds.
Many Konkani films, apart from having a mixed
cultured script, are being released in Konkani as well as Marathi language.
Take for instance the movie ‘Miranda House’. Rajendra Talak, the Chairman of
ESG and Director of international and national award winning films has been
experimenting on his films and has one focused aim – to make Konkani films
reach a maximum audience.
“It’s not about language leaning that should
attract people to movies what movies”, says Talak. “We have to find ways to
reach many people, which is why I have made Miranda House also in Marathi,”
says Talak. ‘Miranda House’ has currently been selected for screening at the
Marathi Film Festival.
Aniket Naik, Director of ‘Amizade’, says. “At
the end of the day, we all are Goans; I look at my audience as Goans and make a
film considering Goans and not as Marathi or Konkani speaking communities. I
think as long as the story is creative and exciting, everyone would come and
watch it,” he states.
Aniket also reveals that ‘Amizade’ had a
mixed audience and became popular among all Goans and his production house By
Mistake Motion Pictures will soon be coming out with another blast for Goans.
“It is based on LOL (laugh out loud),” he winks.
While the new Konkani film ‘Glory’ has enthralled
the audience, not many have realised that this film has actually brought
everyone together through one unifying element – football. Producer and
Director of ‘Glory’, A Durga Prasad says that today, the quality of Konkani
films has improved, giving a way for a larger group of audience. “As directors,
we don’t see communities while making a film; when a good plot comes up, we go
for it. But yes, if we want to favour the Marathi speaking community too, we
have to think wisely and write the script accordingly,” he explains.
He also says that football is something that
is common and loved by all in Goa so making a film around that would open doors
to a large group. “‘Glory’ is about teamwork and sports loved by Goans, so how
can they not watch this?” he says.
The final take
has to be relevance, enjoyment and great messaging, for all Goans, across the
two languages they are most comfortable with- Marathi and Konkani.
