A crow named ‘Martin’ is doing the promotion of the film ‘Funeral’
Ever since the poster of Marathi film ‘Funeral (फनरल)’ was launched in a crematorium, this film has been in the news. Now, this film is the topic of discussion for its unique promotion at different film festivals, including IFFI, for using a huge crow who is named ‘Martin’ in this film.
The film gives a valid message through its unusual tagline ‘Jagu Anande Nighu Anande’ which says a lot about living happily and departing happily. This film has been made by little known young film makers pair comprising of Producer and script writer Ramesh Dighe and director Vivek Dube. Crow, which is considered to be inauspicious among other birds in our religion, is presented as an important character in this film, with whom the lead character of Aroh Velankar communicates.
In short, the film makers have tried to explain the importance of a crow, during the 10th day of the post death rituals; when people are eager to feed the crow. This film starring Aroh Velankar, Tanvi Barve, Sambhaji Bhagat, Prema Sakhardande, Vijay Kenkre is now all set to release on 10th June 2022 .
‘Nagrik’ has a strong subject of investigative journalism
Journalism is considered as the fourth estate of a democratic society. This term was earlier used mainly for print media. The invasion of modern technology saw rise of electronic media and digital media, which has also become part of the fourth estate. This fourth estate, though dreaded by inactive politicians, corrupt ‘babus’ and businessmen, tries to keep check on wrongdoings in the society, apart from hailing the good deeds.
A film fully dedicated to this profession, i.e. Journalism, is very rare, in Marathi cinema. But producer Aarti Sachin Chavan under the banner Sachi Entertainment is coming up with a new Marathi film Nagrik, the story of which has a major backdrop of investigative journalism. ‘Pen is mightier than sword’ is theme of the film which focuses on the political and social realities of the times, through the eyes of common man.. Nagrik, which is directed by Jayprad Desai, has already bagged a prestigious Maharashtra State Film Award for best cinematography (Devendra Golatkar).
Also it features in nominations for five categories of the state awards, i.e. Best Debut Director (Jaypraad Desai), Best Actor (Sachin Khedekar), Best Dialogues (Mahesh Keluskar), Best Lyricist (Sambhaji Bhagat) and Best Film. Nagrik has a strong star cast, comprising of Dilip Prabhavalkar, Dr Shriram Lagoo, Milind Soman, Sulabha Deshpande among others. The film is all set to release soon.
‘Court’ to be released throughout India
Winning awards at film festivals, does not necessarily guarantee a film commercial success at box office. Such films, which catch fancy of section of audience and jury, are also required to reach out to the maximum number of people, to create awareness. Promotion of movie has become an order of the day, through which the film maker expects the viewers to watch his film in theatres.
The makers of soon to be released a National Award winning film ‘Court’, which is produced under the banner Zoo Entertainment by Vivek Gomber, is well aware of compulsions of promotions. When ‘Court’ was conceived by writer, director Chaitanya Tamhane, he did not get an instant go ahead by the producer, who in turn wanted some time to ponder over the project. If not meagre profits, but at least a break even was expected from this first time film project. But after a nod from Mr Gomber, Mr Tamhane kept no stone unturned, to make this movie realistically interesting, and all the awards speak for the film.
Now, the makers of ‘Court’ are busy in promoting this multi-award winning film. They feel that the awareness about this national award winning film, should be spread many fold. So they have requested all the people, who featured in the film, numbering around hundred, to promote the film through their personal contacts in social media. This emotional appeal was met with innocent enthusiasm shown by the entire group of first-time ‘actors’. Incidentally, this very cast got a special mention from the jury of MAMI, as Best Ensemble of Cast in a Film.
National award winning film ‘Court’, which can boast of 18 more awards at various film festivals and expected to increase the tally because it has still 20 odd invitations from other international film festivals, is the first Marathi film to be released nationwide, simultaneously on 17th April 2015.