Saturday, 16 January 2016

Natsamrat (Marathi Movie)


Golden period of Marathi Cinema started from Shwaas (Director: Sandeep Sawant, Released on December 2004, recipient of two National Awards - Best Feature Film and Best Child Actor) and is gaining strength since then.
I have always regretted that Indian movies (majorly Hindi) lack the content, dialogue or performance which holds an audience to his seat. I will borrow from Natsamrat; the performance has to be such that the audience holding chips in his hand and watching the performance should not be allowed to put it in his mouth, even though the distance is very small.
Now about movie, for a Maharastrian, Natsamrat is a name frequently heard as a book written by V V Shirwadkar (popularly referred with his pen name Kusumagraj). The character Ganpatrao was immortalized by Dr Shriram Lagoo through innumerable stage shows.
Movie is about a stage actor Ganpatrao resigns from stage and hands over all his wealth to his son and daughter, despite wife “Sarkar” suggesting otherwise. Subsequently the problems faced by both Ganpatrao and Sarkar runs through the entire movie.
The story appears to be a typical emotional age old sentimental family issues. Yes, I agree with that it is an emotional family drama.
Now what separates this movie and why it should be seen, I will list it down the separators:
·         Exceptionally electrifying and die hard performance of Nana Patekar ( Ganpatrao)
·         An easy looking but strong performance by Vikram Gokhale (Rambhau)
·         Heavy dialogues which relates audience to real life scenario
·         There are many scenes where the audience suddenly feels himself in the shoes of Ganpatrao, Sarkar and Rambhau.
Some of the dialogues are worth reproducing here as they epitomize the heart beat of the movie:
Pratishtha mhanje ek bhaakad oza. Kadhi yogyata nastana milta. Kadhi chook nastana nighun jaata
Kuni ghar deta ka? Ghar? Eka toofanala kuni ghar deta ka? Ek toofan bhinti vaachun, chhapra vaachun, manasachya maye vachun, devacha daye vachun, dongra-dongrat hindta aahe. Jithun kuni uthavnar naahin ashi jaga dhoondta aahe. Kuni ghar deta ka re? Ghar?
Naahin, raagavun kay faayda aahe? Aani radnaar suddha naahin. Mazya dolyat asva jama hovayla laagli tar khi... khi... khile maarun khacha karun taakin pan hya adhai samor mee radnaar naahi.
In fact I want to reproduce all the good dialogues but due non availability of it I fail do so. Especially, on the death bed of Rambhau, when Rambhau and Ganpatrao speaks about Mahabharat character Karna.
For people who do not understand Marathi (English subtitles are there, even though they do not connect to the heart) please watch performance of Nana Patekar, Vikram Gokhale and Medha Manjrekar (eye expressions especially).
There is no doubt that Natsamrat Movie and Nana Patekar will walk away with National Award for Best Feature Film and Best Actor. I can only hope that the movie goes on to Oscar as nomination from India under category (Best Foreign Film). Even though I know it is difficult, I will pray if Nana Patekar’s performance is send for Oscar for Best Actor.
Worth watching many times. Once in a life time of a performance by an actor.
Movie: Natsamrat
Directed by: Mahesh Manjrekar
Produced by: Nana Patekar and Vishwas Joshi
Story by: Kusumagraj
Written by: Kiran Yadnopavit, Abhijeet Deshpande
Release date: 1st January 2016

Actors: Nana Patekar, Vikram Gokhale, Medha Manjrekar

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