A glorious comeback

Dr. Prakash Baba Amte

As we are drawing closer to the end of 2014’s last quarter, it would be safe to say that for most part, film-wise, this year has been a bit of a disappointment. Especially, since the last two-three years were a heady mix of quirky films and mainstream cinema with a refreshing story palette.
And this, despite the fact that we are already assuming that two of the forthcoming big ticket films —Action Jackson and PK are likely to be hits. The good news, though is that Marathi cinema in recent times has been making rapid strides. This year with more than 70 releases and some of them rather noteworthy films, there is a good reason to be optimistic. It was during a chance meeting with documentary film-maker Anand Patwardhan that I became aware of the film Fandry and then made it a point to watch it.
The film which is about the aspirations and hopes of a lower caste boy who falls in love with his class-mate belonging to the upper caste and his efforts at fulfilling them. A hark back to the art cinema of the eighties, the film was both relevant and thought provoking, in that a significant part of modern India is still to break out of the clutches of the caste system. But the one that really had me riveted was Dr Prakash Baba Amte, based on the life of the good doctor, Magsaysay Award winner Dr Prakash Amte (son of celebrated social-activist Baba Amte) who has devoted his life and knowledge of medical studies to the welfare of tribals in the far-flung Naxalite infested areas near Nagpur. That Amte’s life is both a fascinating and inspiring adventure gives the film-maker some great material to start with, but Nana Patekar and Sonali Kulkarni’s sincere performance only adds to it.
And despite its technical limitations, the film, because of the subject and deft storytelling has had a great run at the theaters—six weeks at the last count. Earlier in 2014, Yellow, the story of Gauri Gadgil afflicted by Down’s Syndrome who turns herself into a swimming champion won rave reviews. The last few years have seen quite a few gems like Balak Palak, Harishchandrachi Factory among others, but what is now emerging is a rather robust industry what with its healthy mix of blockbusters—Duniyadari, Lai Bhaari, Poster Boyz—middle of the road cinema and a few eclectic entries.
Regional cinema has been on an upswing—Tamil and Telugu still dominate the commercial space, though Bangla is fast catching up on big box-office numbers. The Punjabi film industry, especially with several Bollywood stars acting in Punjabi films has revived its fortunes, so it’s wonderful that the Marathi film industry is now on its way to being a front-runner among regional films. It’s perhaps only a matter of time that Hindi remakes of good Marathi films will find their way into a theater near you. And a Hindi biopic on Dr Prakash Amte’s could well be a good start!

The Big Fat Indian Wedding

Away from the cinemas, there was excitement aplenty when Salman Khan displayed his bhai (Big brother) side to the world by organising a grand wedding for younger sis Arpita Khan. In all the revelry and celebration of renewed friendships, (old pal Shah Rukh Khan turning up for the event was quite the wedding highlight) there was also the heartwarming story about the adopted Arpita being Khan’s favourite and his lucky mascot too! Incidentally, those in the know insist that the siblings are peas from the same pod—all heart! Well, evidently Khan is a good influence on the young uns. Who would’ve guessed?