A real “honest film”. The Quality of Marathi films is far far better than what is churned out from Bollywood.
GABHRICHA PAUS | THE DAMNED RAIN - Official Movie Website#
**Gabhricha Paus (the damned rain) is brilliant !!! **
Yesterday had gone to attend the preview screening of the marathi film Gabhricha Paus which according to the director means (the damned rain). As the name suggests the film revolves around the theme of farmer suicides in the villages maharashtra.
The synopsis and the promos of the unreleased film can be found here
http://thedamnedrain.com/main.html](http://thedamnedrain.com/main.html)
Most must be knowing that in the recent times, the number of farmer suicides in villages has increased manifold. This is a film set against such a backdrop.
“Kisna, our farmer like many others in India or for that matter, in many parts of the world is trying as hard as he has always been. But so many things, including nature are stacked against him. Kisna’s wife is convinced of the fact that he is contemplating ending his life and hence ropes in their 6 year old son, albeit against his wish and comprehension to be with his father all the time and report any irregularities in his behaviour.”
From the synopsis and the trailer, it can be made out that the film is not just “another tragic film on a tragedy” and that elements of black humor have been dosed in. In fact this reminded me of the korean films in which a tragic subject is taken and elements of black humor is sprinkled. I could also see a bit of **Pather panchali **and The Bicycle thief in it, and i mean it as a compliment.
Sonali kulkarni is as usual brilliant. Girish kulkarni playing kisna has played the part with perfection. You cannot make out if he’s about to commit suicide or contemplating it or trying to think of a solution to his problems, in scenes like when he is standing on the well. The mother and the kid are almost outdoing each other all the time in terms of performances….both are so good. Of the supporting cast the first character coming to my mind is the cynic farmer whose land is next to Kisna’s. He de-motivates and feeds Kisna with cynicism and pessimism at each of Kisna’s attempts, and listens to Radio mirchi all day along on his ‘charpai’ next to the land, watching Kisna and yet taunting him. He has given up long ago.
His logic is simple. Even if Kisna manages to take the loan and and manages to sow the cotton and if it rains at the right time and if the transport available is cheap; in the larger scheme of things Kisna will get back exactly what he has invested. No profit and a lot of probability for losses. So why bother farming ?
The film also deftly touches upon the government compensation issue (how it does or doesnt reach the farmer’s family in the end, thanks to beaurocracy).
How the already depressing situation becomes worse and how kisna manages to face the ever increasing problems is what forms the rest of the film. Cinematography is picture postcard. The music and background sound is haunting.
This film has been selected for many awards and film festivals both national(PIFF) and international (Rotterdam)
As soon the film got over, and people went upto the makers to congratulate. It was heartening to see anurag kashyap and sudhir mishra liking the film a lot and giving advice to the producer as to how to promote it.
Unfortunately, ths film is still hasnt has released yet. May be the production houses like Zee, UTV, BIG etc pick up this film and release it subtitled not just for the marthi audiences but also for the multiplex junta. It’s an awesome film.
After the screening I could hear Sudhir mishra saying …
“it does tread into the dangerous humour territory which was soo present towards the end in my film (hazaron) and I specifically love that territory”
Will have to agree with him …
Someone give a proper theatrical release to this film as soon as possible please.