PANAJI: Indian Panorama feature film section is in full bloom at the ongoing 52nd International Film Festival of India here in Goa. The dazzling array of subjects the films are made on and the messages in them, range from simple to intriguing. Rarely is there a film like ‘Nitantai Sahaj Saral’ (Bengali), which had no specific message and thus gives a freedom to the audience for interpretation.
Debutante director Satrabit Paul says: “Most of the people are always looking for something in life. It is this search that I have portrayed. There is no message as such, in the film.”
Growing up in Haldiwadi in Cooch Behar district of North Bengal, Satrabit always wanted to be an actor. He featured in theatre roles and also pursued a degree in drama through Vishwa Bharati University. On advice of a teacher, he started writing. “I wrote the story of ‘Nitantai Sahaj Saral’ in 2015, but never dared to narrate it to anyone; I thought who would be interested in the story about an ice-cream seller… The characters portrayed in the film are the people whom I have observed from my childhood. When I was in school, a person used to come to sell icecandy with his cycle’s carrier strapped with a box. That man comes even today near my school. My film is based on a similar character who sells ice-cream. He wants to escape the noise of the city and goes to a village. Without a motto in his life, he works along the lines of his whims. He comes to know about a village fare and he wants to go there,” revealed Satrabit, who was delighted to be here at 52nd IFFI.
Directed by Nikhil Mahajan, Marathi film ‘Godavari’ is dedicated to the late Nishikant Kamat. Addressing the media, Nikhil said: “We lost a very dear friend, mentor and one of the most talented filmmakers in India – Nishikant Kamat in August 2020. On that day Jitendra Joshi and I decided to make a film for Nishi sir.”
Part of the International Competition line-up at 52nd IFFI, ‘Godavari’ shows the old Nashik city with many old traditional houses. A tale of the times where the society is experiencing certain changes or reality, is what Nikhil has reflected into the film, which is set in a backdrop where a person comes to know about his death and he tries to settle things for his family and their future.
Kannada film ‘Dollu’ is about how urbanisation is affecting indigenous folk art forms. Sagar Puranik, director of the film, says: “Art has no rules. And this art form from Karnataka, involving heavy percussion where the traditional artistes play the peculiar drums and dance along in a show of all-round magnificence; will never vanish.”
Yet, the film subjects around the protagonist fighting hard to keep his team intact when they all migrate to different cities as urbanisation is a reality and we all are part of it.
Director Sagar Puranik paid tributes to Kannada superstar late Puneeth Rajkumar at the beginning of his media interaction. “He was a pillar of our Kannada industry; he was very close to our team and it is an unbearable loss,” said Sagar, who hailed his team for their tremendous efforts and enabling him to be at 52nd IFFI.
’21st Tiffin’ is a Gujarati film with a women-oriented message that will encourage women to shape their identity than being happy being somebody’s wife, mother or daughter.
Director, Vijaygiri Bava meanwhile pointed out that Gujarat has good artistes and yet there is a perception that Gujarati people are only interested in business. He also wanted more Gujarati films to make their presence at future edition of IFFI.
