‘Picasso’ – An artistic film with a difference
Summary 'Picasso' is a perfect tribute to all those performers, singers and musicians who are part of this folk art. Certainly, an artistic film with a difference.
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Produced by Shiladitya Bora and directed by debutant Abhijeet Mohan Warang, ‘Picasso’ is an artistic Marathi film which was shown at few film festivals and which has now been released by Amazon Prime Video on OTT Platform. Set on the backdrop of a remote village from South Konkan region, the film focuses on a young seventh standard student Gandharva Pandurang Gawade( Samay Sanjeev Tambe). Gandharva who is selected for the Picasso Arts Scholarship at the National level, is required to pay a fee Rs. 1500/- to be eligible for the next level of competition.
With his mother(Ashwini Mukadam) already suffering from an ailment and father just able to manage the household expenses with petty jobs and performing in Dashavatari plays, it becomes difficult for the boy to manage the fees payable for competition. With the notice of paying the fees reaching the school late due to postal delay , the boy reaches the nearby village on the same day, where his father is performing. Though happy with this news, the father expresses his inability to raise this amount in short time. That night the boy spends his time watching the performance of his beloved father in the play. How this night brings the changes in the life of father and son, is what the film’s climax is all about.
Through this simple story of the boy, the film has also shown the importance of the folk art theatre in that region, where Dashavtar plays began in 12th century. So, we get to see, how despite financial struggle and dependence on people’s patronage, these plays still exist in this region. Therefore, the film is a perfect tribute to all those performers, singers and musicians who are part of this folk art. The performances by Prasad Oak, Ashwini Mukadam , Child artiste Samay and other supporting cast are very natural and worth appreciating. Debutant director Abhijeet Mohan Warang has presented this film very well with the support of good folk music Anand Lunkad and decent photography by Stanley Mudda. Certainly, an artistic film with a difference.
‘Picasso’ poster raises a lot of curiosity about ‘Dashavtara’
We aware that Dashavatara refers to the ten primary avatars of God Vishnu. Vishnu is said to descend in form of an avatar (‘incarnation) to restore cosmic order. A popular traditional folk art based on ‘Dashavatara’ which has a history of over 800 years, is still practiced in Laxmi Narayan temple based in Waval village in Konkan. There are 3500 folk artistes who have still kept this art alive, despite no financial help coming from government.
Therefore, Platoon One films (founded by Shiladitya Bora) has produced a Marathi film ‘Picasso’, which is based on this subject. This film is directed by Abhijit Mohan Warang. The film is dedicated to all the folk artistes involved in this folk art. Incidentally, the film has been selected at two popular film festivals- The Jagran Film festival in Mumbai and Brahmaputra Film Festival in Guwahati and will be screened towards the end of this month.
Recently, the poster of this film was released on social media, which has actor Prasad Oak in a traditional get up of a folk artiste. The film has been shot at the location of this old temple in Konkan and stars child artiste Samay Sanjeev Tambe in lead role, while his father’s role is played by renowned actor Prasad Oak. Tushar Paranjape who was writer of National Award winning film ‘Killa’ is the creative director of this film. According to him the subject of this film had always raised his curiosity about the lifestyle of these folk artistes and therefore took extra efforts in presenting their plight through this film.