Tag Archives: Sunil Sukthankar

Actor Sumeet Raghvan turns a singer of Marathi films

We are all aware that actor Sumeet Raghvan is a good singer. He has been part of musical plays in Marathi. But now, for the first time he has turned a singer in Marathi films through the forthcoming film ‘Welcome Home‘. The highlight of this song titled ‘Radhe Radhe..’ is that it has a Bengalee touch and has been rendered by Sumeet without the support of any musical instruments.

Marathi film 'Welcome Home'
Sumeet Raghvan, Marathi film ‘Welcome Home’

Produced by Abhishek Sunil Phadtare, Vinay Bele, Ashwini Sidhwani, Deepak Kumar Bhagat and directed by Sumitra Bhave, Sunil Sukthankar, ‘Welcome Home‘ film is now due for release on 14th June 2019. The star cast of this multi starrer film comprises of Mrinal Kulkarni, Sumeet Raghvan, Spruha Joshi, Subodh Bhave, Jitendra Joshi, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Prasad Oak, Uttara Bavkar, Seva Chauhan, Siddharth Menon, Milind Phatak, Iravati Harshe, Deepa Shriram, Ashwini Giri, Renuka Daftardar, Shruti Atre, Shalv Kinjavadekar & Pranjali Shrikant. Written by Sumitra Bhave the music of this film is composed by Parth Umrani.

१७ व्या थर्ड आय आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सवाचे आयोजन

17th Third Eye Asian Film Festival
Kiran Shataram, Mrinal Kulkarni, Sunil Sukthankar & others at 17th Third Eye Asian Film Festival

१७ वा थर्ड आय आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सव हा भारतातील एकमेव आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सव आहे. शुक्रवार दिनांक १४ डिसेंबर ला सिटीलाईट सिनेमा मुंबई येथे अनेक मान्यवरांच्या उपस्थिती मध्ये १७ व्या थर्ड आय आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सवाचे भव्य उदघाटन झाले. या उदघाटनाला प्रमुख पाहुण्या म्हणून मराठी चित्रपट अभिनेत्री आणि दिग्दर्शिका मृणाल कुलकर्णी, आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सवाचे अध्यक्ष श्री. किरण शांताराम, आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सवाचे डायरेक्टर श्री.सुधीर नांदगावकर, प्रभात चे सचिव श्री संतोष पाठारे , दिग्दर्शक सुनील सुखथनकर आणि फेडरेशन ऑफ फिल्म सोसायटी इंडियाचे उपाध्यक्ष श्री. प्रेमेंद्र मुझुमदार ही मंडळी उपस्थित होती. ‘वेलकम होम‘ या मराठी चित्रपटाने महोत्सवाचे उद्घाटन झाले. डॉ. सुमित्रा भावे आणि सुनील सुखथनकर या चित्रपटाचे दिग्दर्शक असून त्यात मृणाल कुलकर्णी, सुमित राघवन, सुबोध भावे यांच्या प्रमुख भूमिका आहेत.

राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार विजेता सिनेमा ‘कासव‘ आणि ‘वेलकम होम‘ चित्रपटाचे दिग्दर्शक सुनील सुखथनकर यांनी सांगितले की, ” २००४ मध्ये आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सवात दाखवलेल्या ‘देवराई‘ चित्रपटासाठी अतुल कुलकर्णी यांना मिळालेला अवॉर्ड हा आमच्यासाठी आजही खास आहे . एक दिग्दर्शक म्हणून मला दडपण आले आहे आणि आशा करतो तुम्हा चित्रपट प्रेमींना आमचा चित्रपट आवडेल .
१७ व्या थर्ड आय आशियाई चित्रपट महोत्सवात मुंबईकर येथे प्रेक्षकांना आंतरराष्ट्रीय चित्रपट महोत्सवात दाद मिळालेले चित्रपट व लघुपटांचा आस्वाद घेता येणार आहे. अर्जुन दत्ता या बंगाली दिग्दर्शकाचा ‘अव्यकतो‘ हा चित्रपट व शेखर बापू रानखांबेचा ‘पॅम्पलेट‘ हा तीस मिनिटांचा लघुपट आशियाई महोत्सवात प्रदर्शित होणार आहेत.
मोबाईलच्या आसक्ती मुळे संपर्क तुटलेल्या नायक (नंदू माधव) आपल्याला ‘द ड्रेनेज‘ मध्ये आपल्याला पाहता येईल. ‘परसेप्टिव्ह‘ मधून आदिनाथ कोठारे ने धार्मिक सोहळ्यांकडे पाहण्याचा आगळा वेगळा दृष्टिकोन चित्रित केला आहे.

‘Welcome Home’ will be Sumitra Bhave & Sunil Sukthankar’s next film

welcome-home-umesh-kulkarni-sumitra-bhave-sunil-sukathankar-mrinal-kulkarni
Having won 7 National awards, renowned director duo Sumitra Bhave & Sunil Sukhtankar  recently launched their next  Marathi film ‘Welcome Home’ in presence of the artistes and special guest on the occasion film maker Umesh Kulkarni, who gave the muhurat clap. Incidentally, their last film ‘Kaasav’ also won national award. ‘Welcome Home’ stars reputed artistes like Mrunal Kulkarni, Sumit Raghavan, Spruha Joshi, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Uttara bavkar,  Deepa Shreeram, Seva Chouhan, Siddharth Menon, Sarang Sathye, Ashwini Giri, Abhay Kulkarni and child star Pranjali Kamble in lead roles.

This multi starrer film will be the 15th film of producers Shree Ganesh Marketing & Films, which has in the past  presented films like ‘Katyar Kaljaat Ghusali’, ‘Saavar Re’ & ‘Tya Ratri Paus Hota’. Vinay Bele, Abhishek Sunil Phadtare, Dilipkumar Bhagat, Arpan Bhukanwala are the producers of this film. In short, there will be lot to expect from this film, as it will a woman oriented film focusing on the issue, as to which is the real home of a woman, whether it is of her parents, her husband’s or her own ?

Now, Marathi International Film Festival in Sweden

Sunil Sukthankar, Kunnie Topden, Mohan Agashe
Sunil Sukthankar, Kunnie Topden and Mohan Agashe Marathi international film festival Sweden

Marathi films have gone worldwide. We have seen Marathi entertainment awards held in different parts of the world. So, don’t be surprised if Marathi film festivals are held in Sweden. Yes, Sweden Film Association and Winson World are organizing Marathi International Film Festival in Stockholm, Sweden between 20th and 24th April 2017, when 20 films will be screened.

The festival will open with the Premiere of Anant Mahadevean’s film ‘Dr.Rakhmabai‘, followed by films like ‘Harischandrachi Factory‘, ‘Astu‘, ‘Ek Hazarachi Note‘, ‘Fandry‘, ‘Ek Albela, ‘Vazandar‘, ‘Mee Sindhutai Sapkal‘, ‘Natee Khel‘, ‘Natasamrat‘, ‘Half Ticket‘, ‘Katyar Kaljat Ghusali‘, ‘Kasav‘, ‘Dr. Prakash Baba Amte‘, ‘Mala Aai Vhaychay‘,  ‘Sanhita‘, ‘Rama Madhav‘, ‘The Silence‘ and ‘Elizabeth Ekadashi’.

Sumitra Bhave, Sunil Sukthankar

Sumitra Bhavve & Sunil Sukthankar

Known for their well researched issue based presentation of subjects, the film maker duo- Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhtankar have contributed a lot to lift up the level of Marathi films not only in India but at the international scenario.

Their latest film ‘Ek Cup Chya’ which is their 9th feature film, has been shot on the backdrop of picturesque Konkan focusing on the day to day happenings in the life of a simple self respected Bus Conductor employed with State Transport Corporation. This film is due for release in the coming week.

Sumitra Bhave, Sunil SukthankarIt was a great pleasure sharing that sweetness of ‘Ek Cup Chya’ with Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhtankar during the early hours of the day on which the film was to be premiered. Excerpts from the discussion :

Q: Having successfully passed the social message be it Schizophrenia or any other topic so far, what’s new in ‘EkCup Chya’?
A (Sumitra) : The producers of ‘Devrai’ who wanted to spread awareness about Schizophrenia felt this time that they could extend their area towards some other issues and that’s how the concept of ‘Ek Cup Chya’ was born. The story of this film revolves around a self respected Bus conductor, whose conscience does not permit him to be destructive or violent just to prove his point. Through the film’s script we have supported him with the most powerful ‘Right to Information act’ so as to preserve his dignity while living a purposeful life. There are so many people living in this world, who do not like to participate in strikes or adhere to destructive practices, just to prove their point. Our film offers them a different tool to protect their self respect.

Q: So, ‘EkCup Chya’ will try to show the power of RTI Act ?
A (Both) : Exactly! Through this film we have tried to emphasize on the rights of the people under this act and to educate them about the strengths of the act through this medium of entertainment.

Q: Tell us something about the various characters of this film ?
A (Sunil) : We have Kishore Kadam playing the central character of a Bus conductor, while Ashwini Giri plays his wife.The four children are played by Mrinmayee Deshpande( Kunku and Agnihotra fame) a talented artiste , along with child artistes – Om Bhutkar, Parn Pethe and Mandar Devdhar. We have Kamal Desai playing Grandmother’s role dressed up in that typical 9 yard saree. Devika Daftardar plays Dr. Durga, while I myself play the role of Sayyad- the driver.

Q: All your films are issue based focused at a particular target audience. When are you going to give a commercial look to your movies ?
A (Sumitra) : We wouldn’t agree that our films are focused only on a particular target audience. Except for ‘Devrai’ which obviously could not be called a commercial film, all other films can be categorized under Mainstream cinema. Take for example Dahavi Pha ( 10vi F) ; when this film was shown at Delhi Festival, it was categorized under Mainstream cinema section and this film was an opening film in that section. Look at the presentation of ‘Doghi’, ‘Vastupurush’, ‘Gho Mala Asla Hava’. Were they not mainstream cinemas? Now, talking particularly about commercial angle, that’s not in our hands. It is for the producers to market the film at different theatres in a commercial manner. May be because of the budget limitations, they may not be able to give our films a complete commercial look, but we call our films commercial. We leave it to the audience and media to appreciate and brand them as commercial hits.

Q: How was the response received from people abroad to your films during various international festivals ?
A (Both) : We were always confident about our subject presentation, but we were not very sure as to how our cinematic presentation would be accepted by people from different countries. But, they appreciated that part too. In Germany and Japan they were rather surprised as to how we could manage the technical sides within our restricted budget. In short, we tried to reach the world audience through festival audience at various international screenings of our films.

Q: How do you both coordinate during the making of a film ?
A (Sunil) : We first sit together to research on the script details. Once that is finalized, Sumitraji takes the charge of art direction and costumes. During actual shooting I myself handle camera and artiste movements, while Sumitraji takes charge of the monitor and decides on the final shot. Even on the editing table, she has her final say. This has worked well so far.

Q: So, can we expect a commercial success for ‘Ek Cup Chya’ ?
A (Both) : Yes, of course. Thank you.