Around three months ago,during a candid conversation with friends,city-based Rajesh Agarwal realised that while representatives of other states in the city took initiative to popularise their culture and language,almost nothing was done to promote Haryanavi. There are several people from Haryana,who reside in the city,but they dont get a chance to participate in events that remind them of their roots, said Rajesh. Films,he feels,is the best medium,as it has a wider reach and is different from formal functions,which generally receive poor response. We contacted Rupesh Agarwal,producer of Haryanavi film Rukke Padge,to release the film in one of the Pune theatres,and he agreed, said Manoj Agarwal,a member of Shri Maharajadhiraj Agrasen Seva Sanstha,an organisation of Haryanavis in the city. The film released in the city on Friday at Alankar Theatre near the railway station and will be screened till October 1. We just want to give the Haryanavis an opportunity to witness a film made in their mother tongue. The film is open to everyone, said Manoj Agarwal,Rajeshs brother. Vinod Kumar Barai,who distributed the film in Haryana as well,said,Made on a budget of Rs 3 crore,Rukke Padge did good business in Haryana when it released in December last year. Its cast includes like Rajendra Gupta and stand-up comedian Khayali. The film was shot in various parts of Haryana,so the audience will be able to strike a stronger chord with it. The film has been directed by Vedprakash Arya and Ashok Tyagi,who have directed films like Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon,Shastra,Panaah and Tirchi Topiwale. It is difficult to gauge the total number of Haryanavis residing in Pune. Considering that the Agarwals,a sub-caste in Haryana,are around 6,500 in the city,one can imagine the total number of people belonging to Haryana staying in the city, Manoj said. He added that Rs 10 from each ticket would be donated by the group to an NGO that had been working for Uttarakhand redevelopment. We will approach other organisations dedicated to Haryanavis across Pune and request them to contribute to the Uttarakhand fund, he said.
