Going by the Book

Adaptations of regional literature are not uncommon and several Marathi books and short stories have inspired films in the past,such as Sinhasan (1979) that was adapted from Arun Sadhu’s books and Umbartha based on Shanta Nisal’s autobiographical Beghar. However,the trend waned with the decline in quality of Marathi cinema from the ’80s until five years ago. And since Marathi cinema’s revival two years ago,rights to several Marathi books have been purchased by filmmakers. Blockbuster Natarang (2010) is based on Anand Yadav’s novel by the same name and Jogwa is adapted from three different books. Sadanand Deshmukh’s Baromas will release as a Hindi film and Suhas Shirvalkar’s Duniyadari is being made into a movie by cinematographer Sanjay Jadhav.

As is the case with Shala,these writers have benefitted too. Deshmukh admits that Baromas,the film,is yet to release and he has already received proposals for Hindi and English translations of the book.

Shirvalkar believes that films,apart from expanding on the book’s reach,also help the author’s other works. “Once the viewer has read the original book,he or she is likely to also be curious about that author’s other works in an attempt to understand the author’s world view,” he explains. Bokil,also a sociologist,adds that even his non-fiction works,especially Samudraparche,have met with interest since Shala’s release.

Asmita Mohite of Popular Prakashan,a publishing house that prints several Marathi titles,however,feels that a screen adaptation mostly helps if the film’s name is the same as the book. “The association is stronger in that case. Else,the audience easily forgets the film’s connection with a book unless it becomes a blockbuster,which is rare for regional films,” she says.

Paro Naik,the author of Mi Ka Nahi,which has been made as Amhi Ka Tisre— recently screened at the Kashish queer festival,believes that screen adaptations serve a larger purpose,which extends beyond one author’s advantage. “Regional literature has been steadily losing ground in India,but adaptations can become windows to literature for the youth and at the same time help address social issues,such as sexuality,on mass scale,” says Naik.

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