Gone are the days, when Marathi films made on the topics related to freedom fighters and lead characters playing protagonists, fighting against system; received good response from audience. Today, the attitude of Marathi film makers has changed. Though some of the films offer inspiring tales; majority of the film makers are following the traditional comedy pattern, just to claim subsidy offered by the Government. They are not concerned whether the film does business or not. It is only the release of film in few theatres for one week, that matters to them. No doubt, there are realistic films; but they narrate the tragic stories and the biographies fail to inspire.

Maharashtra has produced so many national heroes and saints, who have been inspiration for those who have read about their stories. Marathi films and some of the Bollywood films did attempt films on their lives; but, they needed more extensive research. Music plays very important role, even today in Indian cinema. We also need inspiring songs to support the script of the film. Just take for example, the song ‘ Swarajya toran chadhe Garjati Tofanche choughde,..Marathi paul padate Pudhe’..from old Marathi film ‘Maratha Tituka Melavava’ and even now, after several years, we still get inspired after listening to this song. Also remember the song “ Jyot se jyot jalate chalo, prem ki ganga bahate chalo..” from the Hindi film ‘Sant Dnyaneshwar’ and we get charged up with the message of love towards humanity.

Marathi film industry has offered great film makers like Dadasaheb Phalke, Baburao Painter, V. Shantaram , Vishnupant Damle, Bhalji Pendharkar, Raja Paranjape, Dr Jabbar Patel, Amol Palekar and few others, who paid attention on social issues. In the recent past, we saw few patriotic films like ‘Vasudev Balwant Phadke’, ‘ Krantiveer Rajguru’, ‘Tukaram’ , ‘Savarkar’ and ‘Ambedkar’ and now we understand that there is a film on Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. In Hindi film industry, we notice at least one patriotic film and it does invite all the attention. In the past, there was a film made on Mahatma Gandhi by a British film maker and it turned out to be not only a commercial hit worldwide; but, also won eight prestigious academy awards, besides being nominated for other three categories.

When a foreigner could make a Biopic on the life of an Indian Freedom Fighter, why couldn’t our Indians make a film on the lives of our own freedom fighters. The film by British film maker gave us a good lesson, i.e. a Biopic should have a strong script, supported by extensive research. Maharashtra being the main ground for freedom struggle, we in Maharashtra have yet to make a world class film. Research and script are the main foundation for quality film making. Today, we have technology with many experts in VFX and animation effects. Let somebody from Marathi film industry take advantage of these available skills and create a spectacle which would be appreciated by the entire world.

By: Team MMW