Pune actor-director’s Marathi film makes it to IFFI

While the film is produced by Zee Studio, it is directed by Pune-based actor-director Subodh Bhave. “It’s not only my achievement, but also of Purushottam Darvekar (writer of Katyaar Kaljat Ghusli), who is keeping intact the musical culture, and musician Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki. It’s an honour that an esteemed festival like IFFI has taken into consideration this musical drama,” says Bhave.

The film releases on November 12.

The story of the film revolves around a grand music competition organised by the king of a state to select the ‘raj gayak’ (court singer). The action begins when two very established and celebrated singers from two different music gharanas participate in the competition. While one is a Hindu, the other a Muslim, played by Shankar Mahadevan and Sachin Pilgaonkar respectively. Other prominent characters in the film are played by Amruta Khanvilkar, Mrunmayee Deshpande, Pushkar Shrotri, Sakshi Tanwar and Bhave himself.

In the past, other Marathi films that have been screened at IFFI include Fandry, Killa, Elizabeth Ekadashi and Dr Prakash Baba Amte-The real Hero, among others.
Nikhil Sane, business head of the Marathi department of Zee Studios, says, “Katyaar Kaljaat Ghusli is not any ordinary Marathi movie. It is an ambassador of Indian music. Selection of the film in IFFI is a feat which will take Marathi cinema worldwide.”

The film is a directorial debut of Bhave, who is known for his roles in acclaimed films like Raanbhool (2010), Balgandharva (2011) and Lokmanya Ek Yugpurush (2015), among others.

“From the time I got associated with this play five years ago, I strongly felt that the story had a potential to do well on the big screen. It has strong characters, drama, rifts and all the elements that make a good film. Theatre as a genre has a few limitations too, which can be removed when it’s converted into a film,” says Bhave.

Being a sangeet natak, Katyaar Kaljat Ghusli’s music is its soul. The songs in the film are the same that feature in the original play, like Tejonidhi Loh Gol, Ghei Chhanda Makaranda and others. Other than the re-recorded versions of the old songs, the film also features some new compositions such as Dil Ki Tapish, Mann Mandira, Soor Niraaghas Ho and more, composed by famous musician trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. “It’s been so many decades that Indian film industry has seen a film that celebrates the legacy of Indian classical music. I think the last time such a film was made 30 years ago – Sur Sangam (1985). Katyaar Kaljaat Ghusli will be a fresh breath of air that will also simultaneously boost the genre of sangeet natak,” says Bhave.

The look-and-feel of the film, according to Bhave, is grand yet subtle. Veteran cinematographer Sudhir Palsane has captured the grandness and essence of the film through his camera and art direction, while Santosh Phutane has prepared the classic sets of palaces.