Fast Forward

Unfazed by protests against his Marathi film Elizabeth Ekadashi, which opened the Indian Panorama section at IFFI, Paresh Mokashi gets set for the bigger realm of Hindi cinema

Paresh Mokashi, whose directorial debut, Harishchandrachi Factory was selected as India’s official entry to 82nd Academy Awards

Friday was a day of mixed emotions for Paresh Mokashi whose Elizabeth Ekadashi opened the Indian Panorama section at IFFI 2014 in Goa. Even as he basked in the honour, he could not attend the screening he says, caught as he was in the flurry of media attention outside the theatre. The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) and Warkaris sect have allegedly accused the film of hurting religious sentiments and misusing the word Ekadashi. There were protests across Goa and Mumbai against the film, however, there were no disruptions during the morning screening. Mokashi had taken a fairly relaxed view of the protests by evening. “I don’t know what exactly their issues are with the film. It’s only when I landed in Goa that I heard of it. Once I know the objections, I will address them. As for the title, it justifies itself 10 minutes into the film,” says the director, whose debut film in 2009— Harishchandrachi Factory — was selected as India’s official entry to 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

“The film is about a group of kids who go on a little adventure in Pandharpur — that’s it,” says Mokashi, who has no training in filmmaking but a sizeable repertoire in theatre. Has the lack of training worked to his advantage or disadvantage? “Whatever it may be, once a film is made, the audience decides how good you are at your art. One day, while reading Dadasaheb Phalke’s biography, something struck me and I decided that my first film will be based on his story. I started writing every idea that came to my mind. It was this spontaneous reaction to his story that carried the film. I knew that the biography deserved a film, not a play. Until then, theatre was my forte. That spurt of insanity decided that I should become a filmmaker,” says the 44-year-old Pune-born director who has produced Elizabeth Ekadashi with his wife Madhugandha Kulkarni.

To Elizabeth Ekadashi, he attributes a more studied approach with his primary passion — ancient Indian history. “I conduct objective studies of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and prepare notes — something I have been doing for 20 years. After completing Harishchandrachi Factory, I started compiling this data. Last year, my wife mentioned a few childhood incidents in Pandharpur, and that sparked off the Elizabeth story. We started work on the script that was completed last year in September and then we went to Pandharpur and shot the film in two to three months,” says Mokashi of the film that was released on November 14 and is running to packed houses.
Happy with the money being put into the Marathi film industry by new producers who are willing to finance big projects, Mokashi now plans to foray into Hindi films with his next two projects. “Language is secondary — the narrative or chitrapat is the main motivator for any filmmaker. Which is why Harishchandrachi Factory went beyond being merely a Marathi film. I have a couple of subjects in mind that lend themselves to the Hindi film industry because of the sheer grandeur they demand in terms of treatment. I am waiting for some of my friends — about to venture into Hindi films — to succeed, then I will take the plunge, too. Until then, I am comfortable with my work in Marathi cinema,” says Mokashi, who is also set to experiment with a different genre for a Hindi film project, set to go on the floors early next year.

He is also encouraged by today’s new-age audience who watch all kinds of films. “Many a time we tend to stereotype the audience. Today, the same set that watches Dhoom also relishes Harishchandrachi Factory, which is why there is a place for a Sholay and an Elizabeth Ekadashi in the same domain. It is really up to us to choose the kind of cinema we want to make and how convincing we are in it. That is all that matters,” he says.

sunanda.mehta@expressindia.com

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram