Tag Archives: Marathi cinema news

Sachin Khedekar in double role!

The veteran actor revealed the news while having a down-to-earth interaction with the audience during the event Ek Kalakar, Ek Sandhyakal.

By: Keyur Seta

(News taken from the website HALTI CHITRE.)

Over the years, Sachin Khedekar has acquired a cult following among the Marathi cinema audience. It is his ability to play a wide range of characters with ease that has helped him reached this level. However, few people might have noticed that he has never played a double role ever in his career. Well, the wait is over. Khedekar is finally playing a double role in the movie Pitruroon.

“I am currently shooting for a film called Pitruroon. It is directed by Nitish Bharadwaj. This time, you will see me in a double role,” said Khedekar. Although Pitruroon is Bharadwaj’s directorial debut, he is still known for his portrayal of Lord Krishna in the famous Mahabharat series by B R Chopra. Apart from acting in few Marathi films and directing serials like Gita Rahasya and Apradhi, Bharadwaj has also been into politics.

Khedekar revealed the news while interacting with the audience in Mumbai during the event Ek Kalakar, Ek Sandhyakal by Chaturanga. The actor had a candid discussion with the audience as he happily answered a number of their questions (some unusual ones too). “Sometimes we complain that people don’t come to the theatres when we do something good. Sometimes when we do some good work, we are not there to talk about it with the audience. So I have come here precisely for that,” he said.

Sachin-KhedekarThe discussion started in a humorous manner when an admirer pointed out to Khedekar that after he played a young lad in the serial Chaal years back, he has always played aged characters. The actor took it sportingly and said, “I played young characters even after that serial but I wasn’t famous then. And by the time I became a known actor, my age had increased (laughs). This happens with many of us. But I take your point as a compliment. I firmly believe there should be hard work. If you get something soon, it will also vanish soon.”

While answering a question, Khedekar also recalled the experience of shooting his most challenging role of Subhash Chandra Bose for Shyam Benegal’s Bose – The Forgotten Hero. Although the makers had worked hard for his look, he gained tremendous confidence only after someone from Bose’s family felt he resembled the revolutionary. Considering the hard work they had put in, Khedekar said he wasn’t pleased with the film’s fate. “Still I am glad with the response it gets when it is shown on TV during Independence and Republic Days. This means, the film is reaching the right people.”

Apart from Bose – The Forgotten Hero, it seems the actor isn’t too upbeat about his filmography in Bollywood. He was honest enough to say, “I have played unimpressive characters like the one I played in Singham. It is a requirement of my profession. I did Hindi films only because I wasn’t getting opportunities in Marathi. Else, I would have never done.”

Apart from speaking about his upcoming movie Aajcha Diwas Majha, his growing up days in Mumbai’s Vile Parle suburb and his career as a theatre and TV artist, the actor requested everyone to watch Marathi films in theatre. “These days, I can see such bad films becoming highly successful which makes me feel bad.”

All in all, the joy of getting to interact with their respected star in an informal manner was visible from the audience’s faces. Khedekar’s humbleness was seen from the fact that he respectfully answered even a couple of strange questions from the audience.

(The remaining part of this interesting interaction will be published soon. Ek Kalakar, Ek Sandhyakal will take place every month in Mumbai with prominent people from the Marathi film industry. Stay tuned to our FACEBOOK PAGE for information regarding the next installment of the event.)

Traffic cops say, Hou De Jarasa Ushir

Picture Courtesy - HDJU Facebook page

Picture Courtesy – HDJU Facebook page

If you are in Pune, don’t be surprised if you witness traffic cops instructing – Hou De Jarasa Ushir. Confused? Well, the city’s traffic police department has started an awareness program from January 1 to 15 to highlight the importance of traffic safety. And to do this, they are using the title of Biroba Films’Hou De Jarasa Ushir as they feel it suits the campaign.

“I had approached DCP (Traffic) Vishwas Pandhare and he liked the title Hou De Jarasa Ushir and the tagline Thamba Paha Jha. He said he will adopt our concept and title graphics for the traffic awareness campaign which will encourage motorists for ensuring safety and following traffic rules. We are very happy that our title is being put to good use and will help towards making the roads of the city a little bit safer,” said Tahir Maner, producer of the movie.

As per the campaign activity, various hoardings are put up across Pune displaying the message of traffic safety along with the film’s title. The same was visible in the New Year greeting cards which were distributed to the public not just by the traffic police but also the producer, director Wasim Maner and important members from the film’s crew. In order to show their concern, they also distributed flowers.

With Marathi films in dire need for promotions, we might well see makers of a number of upcoming films adopting such creative measures to achieve visibility.

Hou-De-Jarasa-Ushir           Hou-De-Jarasa-Ushir-traffic-campaign

Hou-De-Jarasa-Ushir-Pune-traffic                         Vahatuk-Suraksha-Abhiyan-Pune

Hou De Jarasa Ushir is about lemon and spoon race: Producer (Exclusive)

Producer Tahir Maner of Biroba Films was once leading a stable career as a mechanical engineer. But a successful professional life and inner satisfaction don’t always go hand in hand. In such a situation, a person is inclined to follow his heart. That is exactly what Tahir did and entered the film production arena with the Marathi film Hou De Jarasa Ushir. The movie has already made heads turn after being selected in the top 282 films for the race towards the most prestigious Oscar Award.

Apart from getting candid about the movie, the producer shares his thoughts on the survival of new production houses in an exclusive chat with Halti Chitre.

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What is your movie Hou De Jarasa Ushir about?

You might remember the lemon and spoon race which we used to play during our childhood. In that race, one needs to come first but at the same time make sure the lemon doesn’t fall. What we are saying through the movie is that if the lemon falls from your spoon, there is no point in coming first. This is the theme of Hou De Jarasa Ushir. The lemon indicates your family life, as in how much time you are giving to your close ones, and your health. So we have tried to describe this in our title which says that it is okay if there is a delay but you shouldn’t lose the lemon.

How did you decide the cast? Did you deliberately didn’t pick big stars?

We had auditions for the cast. Of course, for the role of Fakir we had few people in mind. When we narrated the role to Sadashiv (Amrapurkar) sir, he was very much interested. To have such a senior artist in our film is an honor for newcomers like us. For the rest of the cast, it wasn’t pre-decided to have newcomers. Things just happened eventually.

Your film is selected in the top 282 films in the Oscars.

It is still like a dream for us. This is our first feature film. I joined the industry just in early 2010. So when your first project is selected in the top 282 films in Oscars, you can imagine what I must be feeling considering there are people who spend a lot of time of their live to achieve this.

Picture courtesy – HDJU Facebook page

You are a mechanical engineer. How did you land up in filmmaking?

This question is very common for me (laughs). When I was in Mumbai earlier, I used to work in the field of mechanical engineering. I was happy with the job but not with the lifestyle. I had to work for ten hours and spend almost four hours travelling. Obviously, it wasn’t satisfying for me. I thought there are various other things I could do. I was always interested in writing but I wasn’t able to do that because of my job. Hence, I thought I should take out some time for myself.

At the same time, Wasim (Maner, director) had started his production house in 2005. I was also working with him side by side. So I left my job and moved to my hometown in Phaltan, where one could get lots of time to write. In this way, I became involved with the production house. Later on, we started building our team for Hou De Jarasa Ushir. I started writing screenplay with Wasim and we started shooting in late 2010.

Tell us about your association with Devisha Films, who is distributing the movie.

I personally feel such associations should happen in Marathi film industry frequently. Devisha Films is a big name while we are newcomers. If we have someone like them as our associates, their experience and expertise will help our movie gain better collections. I personally feel it is about co-operation and not competition. Such associations will help Marathi film industry survive. This would ensure that we would go on making more films.

You are aware that only three to five films attain success every year. Due to this, a lot of first timers are not seen again because of the losses incurred! Recently, I read that 95% of Marathi industry is surviving because of first time producers, which means they are nowhere to be seen after their first film. In Bollywood, there are hardly ten big production houses but they have a large share in the profits of the industry. Such a thing should happen in Marathi industry as well but right now we don’t have more than three big production houses.

Do you agree that internet is becoming an important tool in promoting Marathi films?

It is becoming. Internet has entered our society very deeply! These days, everybody is on Facebook. If a person is interested in Marathi films, he will check about the upcoming movies. Even we are getting a very good response from our Facebook page.

You are releasing your film alongside the much awaited Pune 52. Don’t you think this can be a disadvantage for both films?

Yes, it can be. Right now, talks are going on between both the films to see if there can be a way out. We had decided to release our film on January 18, 2013 at the start of November while the makers of Pune 52 had scheduled their films release on December 12, 2012. Even we don’t want to divert Marathi audience as that will affect both the films. Let’s see what happens. Hope for the best.

What are your forthcoming projects?

We are planning two-three films including an action comedy and a thriller. We are also planning a Hindi movie but first of all we are looking for a good cast and a tie-up with a good production house. Just like the title of our film Hou De Jarasa Ushir, we are not in a hurry. It is not that we would make only Marathi or Hindi movies. It will depend according to the demands of a particular story.

Was apprehensive to sing: Amrapurkar, at HDJU music launch

By Sushant Kalaskar

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New challenges can be in store even for veterans who have been there and seen it all. The same would have been the case with acting pro Sadashiv Amrapurkar when he was required to sing for his Marathi movie Hou De Jarasa Ushir, for the first time in his career spanning more than 30 years. The song in question is a fun number called ‘Dhampak Dhampak’.

“Initially, I was apprehensive to sing but Nakul Jogdeo (music director) worked very hard and made things easy for me,” said Amrapurkar during the music launch of Hou De Jarasa Ushir. Surprisingly, the veteran artist is not the only actor who has rendered a number. Actors Vishwas Sakat and Raj Ranaware have also displayed their vocal chords in the song ‘Lagnala Jayacha’.

(Click to enlarge)

The event, which took place in Pune, was started off by felicitating all actors, people from the crew, singers as well as technicians. Since it was the music launch, every song from the movie was played on the screen with each actor, from every particular song, narrating the experience during the shoot of the song. Film’s lead actor Abhyang Kuvlekar hosted the event.

Produced under the banner of Biroba Films and distributed by Devisha Films, the movie is directed by Wasim Maner. Apart from Amrapurkar and Kuvalekar, the film also stars Aishwarya Narkar, Sharvari Jamenis, Raj Ranaware, Chinmay Mandlekar, Aditi Sarangdhar and others. It is slated to release next year.

(Click to enlarge)