People is Maharashtra are well aware of Palkhi, a unique feature of Maharashtrian culture, where a 1000-year-old tradition is followed by the Warkaris . Come Ashadh (June-July) and the devotees collectively go singing and dancing, chanting ‘Dnyanba-Tukaram’ and called as Dindis (organised group of Warkaris) to the holy town of Pandharpur via Pune.

A new Marathi film ‘Gajaar’ based on this Dindi , has been written and directed by Ajit Bhairavkar. Parth (Chinmay Mandlekar) is a young ambitious and egoistic film director from Mumbai. ‘Gajaar’ is a unique cinematic experience, the story of self discovery and transformation of Parth during his 18 day pilgrimage (Waari). Parth is in live-in-relationship with his love Geetali ( Sukhada Yash), a sound designer by profession. Eric ( Edward Sonnenblick), an Anthrapology PhD student from US and Parth come together to make this film on the traditional Maharashtrian religious pilgrimage of Waari’.

Actually in the film’s screenplay, it was Parth’s dream to make a path breaking international film on Waari wherein millions of devotees walk together for 240 kms in 18 days to meet their beloved lord Vithoba. Parth undertakes the challenge to capture this soulful journey of millions, with the core thoughts behind it, in a conventional manner. He and his team work very hard to capture the grandeur and soul of Waari. The 18 chapters of Dnyaneshwari unfold very interestingly with real life characters during the pilgrimage they undertake.

Last week this film was released along with another Mega Marathi film ‘Balgandharva’ . With two other Marathi films ‘Taryanche Bait’ and ‘Mast Chalalay Aamcha’ still doing a good business and occupying theatres, an important film like ‘Gajaar’ just managed to run one show per day at few theatres and that too at odd hours. This certainly makes us think whether it was a right decision to release the film at this time? It would have been better, if the film was released a little before the Dindi, i.e. by end of May or beginning of June, to inspire the devotees .