‘I want people to remember me for my performance’ – Milind Shinde
With his portrayal of whimsical but dangerous Dada Holkar in Zee Marathi’s ongoing serial ‘Tu Tithe Mee’, Milind Shinde has invited all the attention with his humour filled dialogue delivery which is mixed with broken English. Milind is not new to acting field; but this character of Dada Holkar has certainly brought him recognition as an actor. Marathi Movie world spoke to him, to know more about his acting career. Excerpts from an interview:
Milind Shinde Q: How did you enter this profession ?
A: It was sometime in 1998-99. After returning from NSD, I was thinking as to what I should exactly do. At that time I was thinking that with my looks, I would be offered the roles of Postman, tea vendor or a Panwallah. So, I went back to Nagar and started directing the stage plays for banks and MSEB in their competitions and earned for my living. Finally, I wanted to go to Mumbai. Two MLA’s from my village, namely Raju Vanjhale and Balasaheb Thorat invited me to Mumbai and offered accommodation. But, while I was in Nagar, my father who was then posted as Government Officer in Beed received a Phone call from Mr. Girish karnad from Bangalore, requesting him to convey a message to me to contact him. Those days, there were no mobiles; but pagers were in operation. So, my father sent a message. When I contracted Mr. Girish karnad, he asked me to come over to Bangalore. He offered me a role in a Hindi serial he was making and also in a Kannada film. It was with this money, I purchased a 2BHK flat in Pune.
Q: So, your acting career began with Kannada film. But, when you started in Marathi ?
A: After completing Mr. Karnad’s assignments, I came to Pune and did a One year course from FTII. But, then after completing that course, once again the same issue troubled me. i.e. What type of roles I should do ? I was in a dilemma, when I received a call from Amruta Subhash.She was then working in Waman kendre’s drama ‘Phulrani’ and hence asked me, whether I would perform the role of her father in the play. She knew that I would do that role with the kind of voice, which needed a singer artiste. Mr. Gajendra Ahire watched this play and assured me that he would offer a suitable role to me in his film. He did keep his promise and that film was ‘Not Only Ms. Raut’ which won me awards for Best Supporting and Best debut actor. Since then, my journey in this field is going on smoothly. I am grateful to all these people whom I met at the right time. I always tell amruta that it was because of her, i came to Mumbai. With Gajendra Ahire Ii have done 12-15 films.
Q: Your first project was with Girish karnad. What was your experience with him.
A: Some people are born great. Mr. Girish Karnad is one of them. I had read the translated biography of Mr. Karnad ‘Khelta khelta Aayushya’ done by Uma Kulkarni.and, when I actually met him,I found him exactly like that. He speaks fluent Marathi.
Q: Tell us something about your roles in Marathi TV serials and Films.
A: I have done about 20-22 serials. Prominent among them are ‘Vadalvaat’,’Agnihotra’ and the ongoing ‘TuTithe Mee’. There were films like ‘Baboo band Bajaa’, Jaoo Tithe Khau’, ‘Natarang’ ‘Paradh’ and ‘Bayo’. Now, to say something about my experience with films, it takes about 6-8 months to be involved in one film project, including post production. Considering, my original place Beed,the feedback I get from that place is that many of these films never even get released there. Whereas, through television serials I reach at every house in Maharashtra.
Q: What you have to say about your character of Dada Holkar in ‘TuTithe Mee’ ?
A: The character of Dada Holkar portrayed by me is not my own self, but my writer Chinmay Mandlekar speaks through that role. Actually, my director has given me full freedom to perform and that has put me at ease.
Q:Where do you see yourself in years to come?
A: I am working hard to present the best I can, so that the young members in my family should say proudly that this film was done by my uncle or dad. The next generation should say that I want to do the kind of roles that Milind Shinde played. I want people to remember me for my performance. I am paying more attention on quality than quantity. Actually, I am also producing two films ‘Dombari’ and ‘Veda Prem’; so that I will be able to reach out to the audience, with what exactly I have to convey to them.
‘Baboo Band Bajaa’ – a masterpiece
 |
Rating: 3.5
Banner: Jai Gajanan Productions Producer: Neeta Jadhav Director: Rajesh Pinjani Story: Shantanu Ganesh Rode Screenplay: Shantanu Ganesh Rode Cinematographer: Raja Phadatare Cast: Master Vivek Chabukswar, Usha Naik, Milind Shinde, Milatee Jagtap Varadkar, Chhaya Kadam, Master Amaan Attar, Sanjay Kulkarni, Vinod Raut, Mukund Wasule, Rajesh Bhosale, Rajesh More, Mahesh Ghag Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke |
Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia defined Rs 32 per capita per day as poverty line and was criticized by the media and experts. Indeed, Mr. Ahuwalia, hasn’t seen the poverty in villages of Maharashtra. To get a better idea, he should watch Rajesh Pinjani‘s latest released Marathi film ‘Baboo Band Bajaa’. It is not only the earnings to eat the daily bread, but to manage the house and offer minimum education to the children and meet their medical expenses; that counts to decide the poverty line.
Set on the backdrop of a typical village in Maharashtra, the film revolves around one such family of Jaggu( Milind Shinde) , who plays band at weddings and funerals in the village. He shares his income with other three colleagues and sometimes uses his son Baboo( Vivek Chabukswar) , in absence of any one from the group. There was a time, when Jaggu owned his band in the name of his son ‘Baboo band Bajaa’. But, due to poverty and accumulation of debt, he has keep his instruments as security to the moneylender, against the loan.
Mitali Jagtap, Baboo Band Baja Jaggu’s son Baboo studies in 3rd standard in the village school, but he cannot even afford his school uniform. One day, his school bag is lost. Baboo gets thrashing from his father as well as schoolmaster, who sends him home. Jaggu wants Baboo to join his group, but his mother( Mitali Jagtap) does all odd jobs to earn extra, so as to offer education to her son. Baboo’s grandmother( Usha Naik) too wants her grandson to receive good education. One day, after attending to the labour pains of a woman from an upper class family, she requests the head of the family for job. She finds one as a contract labourer at a cotton depot. But, there too, the manager delays her payments.
The bad luck continues with the family, as the old woman too sits at the local market to sell essential items. Jaggu and his group suffer another setback, as the local politician plans community weddings, offering incentives to the newly wed couple. He also plans to invite a Big band group and photographers from the town to get maximum publicity. This results in unemployment for Jaggu as
well as local photographer. But, the local photographer, who marries Jaggu’s friend’s daughter (Namrata Awate) has some photos clicked of the politician’s secret deals. In return, he demands the contract for himself Jaggu’s group for the big event.
Everything seems to be going well, when another tragedy strikes the family. But, in spite of that loss, Baboo gets ready to attend his school and Jaggu gets back his instruments after repaying his loan. ‘Baboo Band Bajaa’ is a sensible film, which sends across a strong message on importance of education to rural children. The director has presented the subject with total sincerity, without paying much attention to unnecessary glamour or item numbers. From start to finish, he has focused his attention on the main issue; trying to explain how women in India are concerned about the education to their children.
The film has already won many awards at the film festivals, with the leading lady of the film – Mitali Jagtap Varadkar, having won the best actress national award last year. Undoubtedly, she has given an outstanding performance. The child artiste Vivek Chabukswar has displayed his extra ordinary talent, through the role of Baboo. Among the other artistes, Milind Shinde looks very natural and has given his best. But, others like Usha Naik, Namrata Awate and others have supported very well. It’s the good team work of the artistes and the technical people, which makes this film a masterpiece.