Journalism of Courage
One look at Ashwini Abhyankar Ghaisas,director of the critically acclaimed Marathi short film,Ek Paus Harvlela and you know that she is not your run-off-the-mill filmmaker. Indulge in a short conversation with her and any doubts regarding it will be erased. As she speaks enthusiastically about her vision of how cinema as a medium should be used to express varied human emotions you know your first impression was right.
Speaking about her movie she says,Modern times are fast changing and it is reflected in varied facets of our day-to-day life. From rapidly changing parenting techniques to fast declining human emotions,we are all a witness to these changes. My movie,Ek Paus Harvlela (The Lost Rain),speaks of these same lost emotions. The movie tells the story of five-year-old Soham and his quest to salvage a relationship with his parents who are both working and have no time for him.
The 13-minute film recently won rave reviews at the BMM Convention held in Philadelphia on May 2009 and also won the second prize at the convention.
Elaborating more about the plot she says,The story deals with Sohams daily time table where he goes to school and comes back home only to spend time alone with his toys,the little goldfish in the crystal bowl and his dreams. The reason as to why the title is so chosen because it deals with the slow loss of innocence that children like Soham suffer owing to the fast paced lifestyles that people live. The movie shows a day in the life of Soham and ends on a note,which allows the viewer to ponder about little truths of life.
Besides direction,Ashwini also has worked as a photographer and actor. Speaking about how she balances her act and her family she says,The idea for the movie came from my own life story wherein both me and my husband would be out working while our son Soham (who played the role of Soham in the movie) would stay at home under the care of the maid. This in fact was the inspiration for my movie. Juggling time at home is not very easy as the movie itself bought me to reality and to terms with these small issues of life but I do manage to pull it off. If not successfully then at least with partial success.
