Showing posts with label Hirkani. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hirkani. Show all posts
Marathi filmmakers delve into history for a grand, big-screen experience
7:57 AM
Preeti Atulkar (BOMBAY TIMES; March 19, 2021)
Huge sets, high-octane battle sequences, a wide canvas and elaborate costumes — historical films have been the talk of the town in the Marathi industry for a while now. With almost five such films either ready for release or in the making right now, it’s safe to say that the genre is at its peak in the industry. We spoke to filmmakers to know more. Read on:
TIME TO REKINDLE HISTORY
Marathi filmmakers have been trying their hand at lesser explored genres like dark comedy, sci-fi and psychological thrillers. But history is clearly the favourite subject this season. Director Digpal Lanjekar, who has helmed two historical films in the past — Farzand and Fatteshikast — will be making six more films under the series ‘Shivraj Ashtak’. The third and fourth films —Pawankhind (earlier Jungjauhar) and Sher Shivraj Hai — have already been announced, with the former eyeing a release soon. Speaking about the reason behind doing this eight-film series, Digpal says, “There are a lot of events in Maratha history that deserve to be made into films. My basic motive was to make the youth know of the glorious tales of the bygone era. Plus, the genre hasn’t been explored well in Marathi.”
NEED OF AWARENESS ABOUT MARATHA HISTORY
Director Rahul Jadhav, who recently revealed the first look of his next, Chhatrapati Tararani, based on the life of the erstwhile regent of the Maratha empire and featuring Sonalee Kulkarni in the lead, also plans to make another period drama based on the life of Maratha naval commander Kanhoji Angre in 2022. “These are our unsung heroes and we need to celebrate them,” he says, adding, “At least 200 movies can be made on the life and times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha empire.”
Ask Rahul what prompted him to make a film on Chhatrapati Tararani and he replies, “I remember, I was in Kolhapur with my daughter and we were crossing the statue of Chhatrapati Tararani. My daughter pointed towards the statue and said ‘Jhansi ki Rani’. It left me heartbroken. I respect Rani Lakshmibai, but I realised that lack of awareness and information about Maratha warriors among the younger generation. That was a trigger point on me and I decided that these stories needed to be told.”
THOROUGH RESEARCH IS A MUST
Filmmakers say that thorough research is a must before venturing into making a historical saga. Prasad Oak, who directed Sonalee in Hirkani, shares, “You can’t tweak history. Period. In fact, right from the costumes, to the sets, everything is created from scratch for a historical film. Your groundwork and knowledge about the subject should be impeccable. Every scene in Hirkani was written in detail, which is why we could pull everything off smoothly. It is true that making a historical film is far more challenging than other genres. But it’s satisfying, too, and I am looking forward to beginning another epic soon.”
BIG BUDGETS, NO COMPROMISE
Pravin Tarde, whose upcoming directorial Sarsenapati Hambirrao boasts of a big star cast, feels that the grandeur of historical films must not be compromised upon. “The film has been made with a budget of approximately Rs. 18 crore. Most of my technicians in the film have worked in big Bollywood films. The sets, the costumes and make-up, nothing has been compromised upon. We have tried to keep VFX to a minimum and tried to keep it as real as possible,” says Pravin, adding, “My actors, including Gashmeer Mahajani and Raqesh Bapat, have shot war scenes wearing armours weighing 90 kgs. I am sure when audiences watch the film, it will be a thrilling experience for them.”
UPCOMING HISTORICAL FILMS:
- Chhatrapati Tararani
- Sarsenapati Hambirrao
- Pawankhind
- Sher Shivraj Hai
- Paavan Khind
One of the first posters of Jungjauhar , which has now been renamed to Pawankhind
(Crisp) Movie Review: HIRKANI by FENIL SETA
10:47 PM
Hirkani is a Marathi flick that released on Diwali and is already the biggest Marathi grosser of 2019. It tells the true story of a brave woman who lived near Raigad Fort during the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The film is just 99 minutes long and doesn’t bore even for a moment. The characters are well fleshed out and one can relate to Hirkani’s dilemma and why she takes the drastic decision. On the flipside, the VFX is tacky. In the second half, the direction is not upto the mark and could have been better for a hard-hitting impact. Editing is also inconsistent – at places in the second hour, it drags and in an important part, the narrative moves too quickly and jumps timeline. Performance of Sonalee Kulkarni however is excellent. This was such a challenging part, not just physically but in all respects. And she comes out with flying colours. Ameet Khedekar is lovely in a supporting part. Prasad Oak, also the film’s director, has a great cameo. All in all, Hirkani, despite the shortcomings, deserves to be seen for Sonalee’s performance, incredible subject and some thrilling scenes!
My rating - *** out of 5!
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