Remembering Ram Ganesh Gadkari
What a person could achieve in his short life span of 35 years ? Ram Ganesh Gadkari is the best example. Born on 24th May 1885, in Navasari district in Gujarat, he lost his father at an early age. Somehow managing to complete his schooling, he moved to Pune’s Fergusson College; where after the first year of his college, he took up teaching to support himself and also pursue his literary interests.
Ram Ganesh Gadkari took up extra interest in Sanskrit playwrights Kalidas & Bahubali, besides studying Marathi and English literature. Gadkari wrote 8 plays , 4 of which were incomplete due to his untimely death. But, his play ‘Ekach Pyala’ was a hit on stage. His other works on stage comprise of ‘Prema Sangam’, ‘Punya Prabhav’ and ‘Bhav bandhan’. His collection of poems and humourous articles were also popular. One of his scripted story was used in a marathi film ‘Thakicha Lagna’( 1935). His name is still remembered among marathi theatre lovers with the famous drama theatre in Thane named in his memory. MMW pays tributes to this prolific writer on the occasion of his death anniversary.
Mi Marathi’s Lajjatdar recipes now in Thane
Maharashtra is known for variety of kitchen recipes from different regions. No wonder there are programmes on kitchen recipes on every Marathi TV channel. Mee Marathi channel offers one such programme titled ‘Lajjatdar’ which is popular among not only housewives but also other family members.
To popularize their programme further, Mee Marathi channel has organized a Food fair of delicious kitchen recipes in Thane at Shiv Samartha Ground on 30th and 31st January 2010. This food fair called ‘Mahakhadya Jatra’ will receive participation from celebrities from Marathi entertainment field like Bharat Jadhav, Makarand Anaspure, Sonali Kulkarni, Ankush Choudhary, Amruta Khanvilkar, Santosh Juvekar, Ajinkya Deo, Neelam Shirke, Pankaj Vishnu and others.
Mahakhadya Jatra will be open between 5pm and 10 pm on 30th January and between 11 am and 10 pm on 31st January 2010. Sharvari Lohakare & Sai Ranade will play programme host of the show while Deepa Avachat and Dr. Subhash Avachat will be the judges to decide the best recipes. According to the organizers, there are lots of prizes to be won and the fair will offer on the spot entertainment programmes.
Upendra & his film ‘Jogwa’ rock at national awards
Marathi film ‘Jogwa’ has been adjudged as the best social film in the 56th National awards announced for the year 2008. In all, ‘Jogwa’ has won five national wards, with the other two for the best actor (male) won by Upendra Limaye and best music for this film by Ajay -Atul. It’s a great pride for Marathi film industry, as ‘Jogwa’ has been applauded at the national level. ‘Harischandrachi factory’ has also won the best Marathi film award.
Marathi Movie world had highly praised this film, rating it with 4 stars in the review and acknowledging the performances of Upendra Limaye and Mukta Barve in particular, for their stunning performances . Even Ajay- Atul’s music was rated as the best. Now, with these awards, Marathi film industry has proved that they are nowhere behind any other film industry in this country and have also offered the best talent.
Upendra has already made it big in Bollywood, on the basis of his previous performances in the marathi films like ‘Bangarwadi’, ‘Kairee’ and ‘Savarkhed Ek Gaon’. Now, he deserves better roles even in Bollywood. Even Ajay-Atul have a bright future ahead.
MMW wishes the team of ‘Jogwa’ hearty congratulations!
Bes Social Film: Jogwa
Best Music Director: Ajay Atul
Best Actor: Upendra Limaye
Best Singer (Male): Hariharan
Best Singer (Female): Shreya Ghoshal
Bedhund Marathi : A new Marathi Music show
Young Marathi Composer & Lyricist Ajay Naik comes up with a Music show of new generation Marathi songs. He will be presenting hit music songs from album “Manarang” and “Yari Tujhi” along with some other hit music songs of today’s leading Marathi music composers.
Renowned Singers Madhura Datar & Prashant Naseri (Saregama Fame) are supported by Parashar Joshi (Indian Idol Fame) and Revati Kulkarni.
The show has a bindhaas flavor of all peppy Marathi songs and is expected to be an instant hit with the audience.
This is the Inaugural show and the Ticket Rates are Rs. 150/100/75 respectively !
Remembering Chi Vi Joshi and his Chimanrao
Chintaman Vinayak Joshi, popularly known as Chi Vi Joshi is one such name in Marathi literature, who brought humour through his most popular book ‘Chimanravache Charhat’.
Born on 19th January 1892 in Pune, he completed his studies from Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya and Fergusson College. Later, he acquired his Master’s degree in Pali and English literature from Mumbai University.
Mr. Joshi, who began his career as a teacher in Ratnagiri , Maharashtra, later shifted to Baroda and worked as a Professor there. He was also director of Archives at this princely state of Baroda. After his retirement he moved back to Pune and focused his attention on writing. His collection of writings include his research papers and more than 25 books in Marathi. As a writer, he was highly inspired by Jerone K Jerone, Barry Pain and P.G. Wodehouse. His most popular collection of stories on a popular character Chimanrao became so hit that they were adapted into Marathi films and TV serials.
Chi Vi Joshi shall always be remembered for his humourous stories. MMW pays tributes to this great writer on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
‘Bharatmata’ Ki Jai !
Last week, Marathi Movie world had appealed to Marathi film lovers for their strong support to save Bharatmata theatre, which is the only cinema house in Mumbai exclusively screening Marathi films for more than 70 years. The theatre located in the heart of Mumbai’s labour township of Lalbaug/ Parel, had received a big threat of demolition after receiving notice from NTC for expiry of the lease.
In a fresh development today, the centre’s minister Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, who paid personal visit to the site along with chief minister of Maharashtra, assured the marathi film lovers that Bharatmata theatre will remain at its place and would continue to screen marathi films. “ In my own state, we encourage our own Tamil films and I can understand the feelings of Maharashtra chief minister, when it comes to respecting the Marathi films,’’ said the minister. His assurance has ended the controversy hanging over this heritage of Mumbai.
‘Vihir’ for Berlin Film Festival
Umesh Kulkarni’s ‘Vihir’ has been selected for the Competitive section of the Berlin Film Festival to be held in early February 2010. This is Umesh’s second film after the critically acclaimed ‘Valu’. Amitabh Bachchan’s A.B. Corporation Ltd. are the producers of the film, who have ventured into Marathi film production, especially with the backing and support of Jaya Bachchan who was very impressed with Umesh’s short film ‘Girni’.
‘Vihir’ is a film about the coming of age of two teenage boys and the effect it has on one of them after an accidental drowning of his elder brother in the village well. The film stars Girish Kulkarni, Madan Deodhar, Alok Rajwade, and Renuka Daptardar.Produced by Ramesh Pulapaka the film’s music is composed by Mangesh Dhakde. DOP is Sudheer Palsane while Niraj Voralia the editor.
The film has already won an award at the Pusan International Film Festival in 2009. It was also appreciated universally at the MAMI International Film Festival .
The unforgettable Baburao Painter
He was born as Baburao Krishnarao Mestri in Kolhapur in 1890, but soon derived this name Painter, through his excellence in Painting. Baburao Painter was a leading painter of stage backdrops and worked those days for Sangeet Natak troupes and Gujarathi / Parsi theatre. His passion for films began after the release of ‘Raja Harischandra’, which made him buy a movie projector to turn a movie exhibitor.
In 1919, Baburao Painter with the support of his well wishers set up Maharashtra film Company in Kolhapur. His first film ‘Sairandhri’ based on Mr. Khadilkar’s play ‘Keechak Vadha’ was heavily censored for the scene on slaying of Keechak by Bheema; yet, the film invited both analytical and commercial praise. Baburao Painter, who was an institution in himself, with his multi-talent, seriously worked in all areas of the film from acting, direction, set designing camera besides set and poster designing . He lost his interest in film making after the arrival of Talkie films, as he felt that the visual impact that a silent film created was lost in a talkie film. Therefore, he shut down his own studio in 1931. However, he continued directing the films at the request of his friends till 1953.
Baburao Painter will always be remembered for his creations like ‘Sairandhri’, ‘Savakari Pash’ ‘Kalyan Khajina’, ‘Sinhagad’, ‘Sati Padmini’, ‘Sri Krishna Avatar’, ‘Bhakta Pralhad’ and ‘Netaji Palkar’. He directed his first talkie film ‘Usha’ for Shalini Cinetone, Kolhapur. The others to follow were ‘Rukmini Swayamvar’, remake of ‘Savakari Paash’, ‘Pratibha’, ‘Vishvamitra’ and ‘Mahajan’( 1953). He said good bye to this world on 16th January 1954. MMW pays sincere tributes to this legend from Maharashtra, on the occasion of his death anniversary.
PIFF receives State recognition
For the first time, this year’s Pune International film festival (PIFF) received the official recognition of the State government. The presence of chief minister of Maharashtra Mr. Ashok Chavan as the chief guest for the concluding function, made all the difference. The chief minister made an official announcement that from next year onwards PIFF will be called Maharashtra International Film festival. Mr. Chavan also assured all support to the film makers whose films received threats from Political censorship in spite of getting Censor’s clearance. “Those who have any objections, should approach the Censor board,” he said.
The following awards were presented on the occasion:
Sant Tukaram award for Best International Marathi film : ‘Natarang’
Prabhat’s award for Best International film : White Lightning’ ( Great Britain)
Best direction – International film : Maria Prokazkova ( Who is afraid of the wolf)
Best direction – Marathi film : Umesh Kulkarni ( Vihir)
Best actor : Atul Kulkarni ( Natarang)
Best screenplay : Renuka Shahane ( Rita)
Sp. Awards : Acting : Kishore Kadam ( Pangira)
Cinematography : Sudhir Palsane( Vihir)
Remembering Durga Khote on her birth anniversary
At the age of 26 she became a widow with the responsibility of bringing up her two young sons. Durga Khote decided to act in films during that period, around 1930, when female roles were performed by male actors. She soon joined Prabhat films and made a history of becoming the first heroine of a Marathi Talkie film – ‘Ayodhecha Raja’. The film became a hit and then there was no stopping for Durga Khote. In 1937, she produced and directed a film titled ‘Saathi’, getting the recognition as the first women to step into this role in Indian cinema.
Those days Durga Khote was very fond of Marathi theatre and was actively associated with the Indian People’s Theatre Association ( IPTA) and worked in several plays for the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. In 1954, she notably performed the role of Lady Macbeth, in V.V. Shirwadkar’s Marathi adaptation of Macbeth, as Rajmukut- ‘The Royal Crown’, along with Nanasaheb Phatak . She performed in about 200 Hindi and Marathi films and her performance in ‘Dhartichi Lekre’ brought her Maharashtra state award in 1970. But, before that she was homoured with Sangeet Natak academy award in 1958 and The ‘Padmashri’ from Indian Government in 1968. Later in 1983 Government of India bestowed upon her the prestigious Dadasaeb Phalke award in appreciation of her service to the film industry.
Durga Khote will always be remembered for her notable performances in films like ‘Moghul-e-Azam’, ‘Bharat Milaap’ ‘Bidaai’, ‘Bobby’, ‘Bawarchi’ & ‘Abhimaan’. After retiring from films, she wrote her autobiography in Marathi, which was well received. The same was also translated into English by Shanta Gokhale with the title ‘I, Durga Khote’. She spent her last days in Alibaug, near Mumbai. MMW pays tributes to this legendary actress.