Showing posts with label Konkani films. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

APRIL 24 - Konkani Cinema Day - Some Reflections

Konkani Cinema Day - Some Reflections

Published on: April 23, 2011

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By Tomazinho Cardozo

No form of art can survive if the society to which it belongs to does not patronise it. People’s participation is of utmost importance, be it dance, drama, song or cinema. If the people of the soil, where this cultural form originated, do not love it then there is every possibility of losing that form permanently. I observe such an attitude among Goans as far as Konkani films are concerned. It is unfortunate indeed!

There were only two Konkani films released in 2010. They are “O Maria” by Rajendra Talak and “Tum Kitem Kortolo Aslo?” by Sharon Mazarello.

“O Maria” has completed 100 days of screening at INOX, Panaji with one show every day. “Tum Kitem Kortolo Aslo” will screen its 100th show on May 16 at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Looking at the performance of Konkani films in Goa, few pertinent questions need to be answered by Goans, particularly the lover of Konkani language and Konkani culture.
Why are Konkani films screened only once a day? The simple answer is that Goans do not patronise Konkani films the way they do Bollywood and Hollywood films. If a Bollywood film can have 8 to 10 shows a day, why not have at least three shows for a Konkani film? This is an insult from Goans to their own culture. It’s high time that Goans realise the importance of Konkani cinema in preserving the cultural heritage of Goa.

Yet another important question that comes up is why, in some cases, are Konkani films are not given the opportunity of being screened at prestigious theatres in Goa?

I am given to understand that the prestigious theatres, many a time, decline the requests of Goan producers to screen their films. If this is true, then it is another example of a grave insult to Konkani language, which is the Official language of Goa. The government must have a policy that will compel every theatre owner to screen Konkani films without any hesitation and that too at concessional rates. This is very important if we intend to give respectability to Konkani cinema.We must learn a lesson or two from Bhojpuri people and their films.

Today, Bhojpuri cinema is making waves at the national level only because of the whole-hearted support of the people. They are well aware of the fact that Bollywood films are better, yet they go to watch Bhojpuri movies because their only intention is to see that the Bhojpuri cinema attains greater heights in the world of cinema. And here in Goa we experience exactly the opposite. Yes, it is a fact that Konkani films are not comparable to Bollywood and Hollywood films. At the same time it does not mean that Konkani films do not have any standard. ‘Amchem Noxib’ and ‘Nirmonn’ achieved great success.

‘Nirmonn’ won the National Award in the 1960s. In recent years, we have come across Konkani films like ‘Alisha’, ‘Antarnad’, ‘Padri’ and ‘Sawarya.com’ which display a lot of improvement in film making. They have won national awards too. Regrettably they were not commercial successes only because of our biased attitude towards Konkani films.

There is a feeling that Konkani films are not commercially viable and therefore Goan producers and directors today opt for making Marathi films as these films have a huge audience in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra. All Goans speak and understand Konkani. If we love the language we are bound to love all that is produced in that language, including films. Therefore our mindset towards Konkani films needs to change.

This is the time when Konkani cinema needs our support. If we have a positive outlook towards Konkani cinema then it will prosper in times to come. Mind you, any amount of financial support from the Government can only provide temporary relief. Only people’s support can make Konkani cinema self-sufficient and prosperous in times to

Today, Konkani Cinema completes 61 years. Considering the number of movies produced during this period vis-à-vis commercial success it appears that we are just beginners in the world of cinema.
April 24 is celebrated as “Konkani Cinema Day”. It was on this day that in 1950 the first Konkani Cinema, “Mogacho Anvddo” was released.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Konkani Cinema Day on April 24

Published on: April 22, 2010

Governing council members irked over ESG not holding Konkani Film Festival

PANAJI: Some of the members of the governing council of the Entertainment Society of Goa have taken serious objection to the step taken by the CEO of the ESG, Mr Manoj Srivastava, wherein he has sidelined the decision of the governing council to hold a Konkani Film Festival around April 24,
in commemoration of the screening of the first Konkani film, ‘Mogacho Aundo’ on this day and instead, organised the European Union Film Festival.
It may be recalled that at the 42nd governing council meeting of the ESG held on June 15, 2009, under agenda item no 9, the calendar of events of the ESG were put up before the council members by the CEO of the ESG. During discussion on the same, one of the senior most members of the governing council, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo had proposed that the ESG should host a Konkani Film Festival to mark the release of the first Konkani film on April 24, 1950, at Mumbai.
The proposal was unanimously approved by the governing council and the CEO of the ESG was supposed to take necessary action on the same. However, after almost 10 months of this decision, it was conveniently forgotten and no step was taken to host the Konkani Film Festival. On the contrary, the European Union Film Festival was organised on April 24.
Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, who had mooted the idea to hold the Konkani Film Festival eventually had to organise a Konkani Cinema Day on April 24 under the auspices of Tiatr Academy of Goa, headed by him.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, Mr Cardozo said that the idea to hold a Konkani Film Festival, which would either start or end on April 24 was proposed and approved at the governing council meeting of the ESG with the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat wholeheartedly supporting the concept. “However, some two weeks back, when I went to the office of the CEO of the ESG to find out about the preparations of the Konkani Film Festival, I was told that a European Union Film Festival was being held instead,” he added.
“I was really hurt by the response of the CEO as well as others holding responsible positions at the ESG, as they had dishonoured the decision of the governing council,” Mr Cardozo stated, further adding that he will not only follow up the matter and ensure that a Konkani Film Festival either begins or ends on April 24, from next year, but would also write a letter to the CEO of the ESG on April 26 in this matter. He further lamented that the ESG staff does not understand the emotions of Goans as attached to certain issues.
“The European Union Film Festival is a travelling film festival and could have been scheduled on some other dates so that Goans could have got best of both film festivals,” Mr Cardozo suggested. Mr Vishnu Wagh, another member of the governing council said that once a decision is taken by the council members, the ESG staff should take the same to its logical conclusion. “If the governing council decisions are just ignored, then why there should be a need for a governing council in the first place,” he questioned, stating that it is not the job of the governing council members to follow up their approved decisions.
“The general observation is that whenever benefits are to be given to Goans the priorities are changed in the negative direction, which is very bad,” Mr Wagh said, pointing out that his own approved proposal as regards honouring Mr Nilesh Naik, a rangoli artist for securing an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records by presenting him with Rs 1 lakh, was totally ignored. “It should be ensured that in the future any decision taken by the governing council of the ESG must be fully honoured and implemented, without any obstruction,” he concluded.
Yet another member of the governing council, Mr Vishal Pai Cacode when contacted told this daily that if any European country was to hold festival of films by its filmmakers, the decision would not have been changed to make way for an Indian Film Festival in that country. Mr Cacode also stated that certain events need to be held on those particular days as those days spell significance just as April 24 is a Konkani Cinema Day. When asked as to whether he knew about the screening of a 7-minute film on Al Jerry Braganza, the first Goan filmmaker of Konkani film, during the inauguration of the European Union Film festival, Mr Cacode said that he came to know about it only through the newspapers.

Konkani Cinema Day should be given preference over other film festivals

Konkani Cinema Day should be given preference over other film festivals: Tomazinho Cardozo

NT NETWORK
http://www.navhindtimes.in/

The first Konkani Cinema ‘Mogacho Anvddo’ produced by A L Jerry Braganza was screened on April 24, 1950 and hence April 24 is celebrated as Konkani Cinema Day.

The Dalgado Konknni Academy in collaboration with the Tiatr Academy of Goa celebrated Konkani Cinema Day on April 24 at the conference hall of Tiatr Academy of Goa.

Chief Guest for the function, director of Information and Publicity, Mr Menino Pires said that Konkani Cinema Day should be celebrated in a grand manner. He further said that Mr Tomazinho Cardozo had appealed to the government for a bigger venue, however, due things did not work out because another film festival suddenly came up. “Next year we promise that this day will be celebrated in a big way like other film festivals,” Mr Pires said.
Speaking further, Mr Pires said, “Cinema is a medium of entertainment and education for through cinema it is easier to convey social messages to children. It’s been a happy moment celebrating the completion of 60 years of Konkani cinema. Earlier, there was no financial support from the government and yet movies like ‘Nirmonn’, ‘Mogacho Anvddo’ became popular.”

The government will implement schemes for Konkani film producers Mr Pires informed, adding that Goa has produced some good films and has producers and scripts. The only hurdle is organising equipments, which is very expensive, he stated and so the government will provide 50 per cent grant to film producers. The scheme will be launched at a function that will be held at the Maquinez palace.
The president of the Tiatr Academy of Goa, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo said that he had appealed to the government to celebrate the Konkani Cinema Day at the ESG. Unfortunately, due to some other film festivals plans had to be dropped. “I firmly say that Konkani cinema should be given first preference. Such occasions need to be celebrated in a big way as Goans like to watch Konkani movies,” Mr Cardozo stated emphatically.
Film writer and director, Mr Darmanand Vernekar speaking on the occasion said, “Generally in Bollywood you will notice that Goa is associated with drug mafias, hippies, etc. It is a challenge to young filmmakers to change peoples’ mindset towards Goa. Try to write some good scripts in regional languages. Good cinemas can be dubbed in any other languages.”
On this occasion an exhibition of photographs of the first film ‘Mogacho Anvddo’ was held. Newly released Konkani film ‘Nisha’ produced by Neville Pereira was also screened.