From first frames to feature films: Marathi directors share their journeys at PIFF

Mohit Takalkar, director of Toh, Ti Ani Fuji, traced his journey back to theatre. “I was already involved in theatre, but the idea of making films was always on my mind. I grew up in the city and have had access to many things, yet urban life brings its own conflicts. Changes in relationships within city life are what I have tried to explore in this film,” he said.

Ravindra Manik Jadhav, who has made Jeev, spoke about his work as a teacher in Dhule and his aspiration to make films. “I made my first documentary in 2013 using a handycam. I did not know anything about filmmaking then. Later, my documentary Thaal Bhankasar won a prize of Rs 2 lakh, which motivated me to continue. In 2018, a memory shared by someone during writing led to the story of Jeev. My wife supported me financially, and the film was completed,” he said.

Manoj Naik Satam, a former photographer who shot wedding photographs, said watching video shoots drew him towards filmmaking. His film Gaman is considered a strong contender. “A story stayed with me for years, which later became a novel published in 2015. That story eventually became my film. I had no money while making it. It was either madness or drowning, and I chose to drown,” he said.

Sameer Tewari, director of Bappya, said he wanted to make a Marathi film despite being from Uttar Pradesh. His wife is Marathi. “Four years went into finding a producer. Finally, my wife raised the money. Girish Kulkarni, an actor, producer and writer, supported me, and the story I had in mind came to life. The film reflects what I have observed in society,” he said.

Ramesh More, who grew up in a Mumbai slum and has no formal training in filmmaking, spoke about making Adhishesh. “I learned while making films. I searched for a producer for three-and-a-half years. During the pandemic, the idea of what remains within us stayed with me, and that became the core of the film,” he said.

Santosh Dawkhar, director of Gondhal, said he, too, had no background in cinema. “I made my first short film in 2013. I studied screenwriting, watched films and learned from them. I spoke to people from the Gondhali community, took a bank loan and completed the film,” he said.

The writer is an intern with The Indian Express