Meanwhile, Patkar to debut in Marathi film Paandhar, play herself

It's a first for the Magsaysay Award winner. Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar will now appear in a Marathi film, Paandhar. Patka...

It’s a first for the Magsaysay Award winner. Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar will now appear in a Marathi film, Paandhar. Patkar plays herself in the 150-minute film.

‘‘Having Medha as one of the main characters is definitely a strong selling point for a film that depicts the struggle against globalisation,’’ says director Gajendra Ahire, who reveals that his movie is partly inspired by the 1950s’ Bimal Roy classic Do Bigha Zameen.

Partly scripted by Patkar, Paandhar reflects the invasion of foreign multinationals who even want to bid for the waters of the Indian subcontinent.

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In the movie which was shot in 20 days, Patkar’s character comes to the aid of a widow, played by Vrinda Ahire, Gajendra’s wife.

Though Patkar refused to talk about the venture, a spokesperson for Fountain Entertainment — the film will be released under its banner — says she agreed to do the film as ‘‘it deals with a subject close to her heart for so many years. The film also carries a message for all Indians.’’

The cast of the film — which is said to have all the ingredients of a Bollywood potboiler (songs, suspense and violence) — includes veteran Marathi artistes Nilu Phule and Dr Sriram Lagoo.

Shot at Pirangoot village in Pune and Shivajinagar near Satara district, the film will be released in April.