Varsha
Usgaonkar is no stranger to Goa. A Goan girl who loved movies, she moved to Mumbai to make a great name in
Marathi and Hindi cinema. She the story of her childhood dreams of being an
actress and her homecoming with her debut Konkani film.
“I just finished the film, ‘Zanvoy No 1’. I am playing the role
of a mother-in-law in the film and it is a wonderful film. I feel like this is
another ‘Gammat Jammat’ for me. That was my debut film in Marathi and this will
be my debut film in Konkani. This is my first film in Konkani. I had done one
film earlier, but it is still in the cans and it didn’t see the light of the
day. I am looking forward to the release of the film,” says Varsha.
The film has Prince Jacob and Kevin D’Mello. “There are many
Goans who have acted with me in this film. Prince Jacob is a very versatile
tiatr actor who has also done films. Kevin is an upcoming and good actor.
Irrespective of the language, I hope people will watch the film which will have
subtitles. It is a paisa vasool movie and an out and out comedy,” she adds.
Speaking about how
Konkani cinema has progressed since she was in the state, she says, “Buierantlo
Munis’ and ‘Nirmonn’ were the last two films before a big lull in Konkani
cinema. I am very happy with the way Konkani cinema is moving. There are films
like ‘K Sera Sera’, ‘A Rainy Day’, ‘Antarnad’, ‘Nachom-ia Kumpasar’ which are
good and at par with Bollywood films, they don’t lack in any aspect.
As a Goan, I am very
happy that Goan cinema is progressing. Whatever we watch, there is a different
joy in watching regional cinema. No matter how many Hollywood or Bollywood
films you watch, when you watch a film in your language that too with a
contemporary subjects like the coal mining, or environment with the backdrop of
a church or temple and cultural heritage, there is a different feeling of
happiness. I am happy to say that Goan culture is showcased in these films and
I feel a regional film has to look like a regional film. I am happy that these
films have not copied Bollywood ad their content is very good.”
Varsha
is keen on accepting new scripts for Konkani movies too as she feels that she
has always had Goa on her mind. “My parents and my sisters live in Goa and even
I have a house. When there is a film happening in Goa, I will be here. If there
was a time like now where the films were doing well, I would not have to leave
the state. Like Remo Fernandes did his career from Goa, I too would have done
it. Unfortunately, there were no opportunities and I had to move out for better
films,” concludes Varsha.
