'Audience should support Marathi films

MARATHI audience should go to cinema halls and watch Marathi films to encourage the young talent in the industry. We have new concepts, directors and producers ready to handle off-beat themes. Due support by the audience would open new horizons for our films,” said Mangesh Dhakde, who composed the music of the recent super-hit Marathi film ‘Valu.’

Mangesh, son of Surmani Prabhakar Dhakde, a veteran musician of the city, was speaking to The Hitavada on a recent visit to his hometown. After learning basic lessons of music till Sangeet Visharad from his father, Mangesh joined Film and Television Institute, Pune, for formal education of Sound Engineering.

“Sound engineering is completely different from music composition and singing. A sound engineer handles technical side of the film including recording, mixing, and dubbing,” said Mangesh, who received an offer of ‘Valu’ as soon as he completed his final year of sound engineering due to his flair in music composition.
“Valu’s director Umesh Kulkarni is my friend, who called me for his film. It was a learning experience of modern-time Marathi Cinema. We are the team of youngsters who work hard to present off-beat themes,” expressed Mangesh.

Mangesh said, there is ample scope for Vidarbha talent in the film industry and welcomed the city youngsters to Mumbai. He also added, the formal education and technical perfection is must to start struggle in the industry. Mangesh is working on several national and international projects other than a few Marathi films. “I am working on an album of ‘Sufi’ songs in which compositions of Bullesha, Mirabai and several other legends would be involved.”

His father, Surmani Prabhakar Dhakde is well-known for violin in the region, but Mangesh enjoys the synthesizer more. He said that he would love to work with Suresh Wadkar and Hariharan while his dream project is to work with legendary Sarangi artist Ustad Sultan Khan. Remarkably, a tele-film made by Mangesh and his team as their university project was the official entry from India for International Students’ Oscar award. A commerce
graduate from Sindhu Mahavidyalaya,

Magesh said, he misses Nagpur all the time in Mumbai and Pune. He expressed concern about limited courses on performing art in Vidarbha universities. “If our universities provide better facilities in performing art and fine art fields, our talent would get the recognition for sure.”

For youngsters who are about to join the film industry, Magesh has a special advice: “There is career in this field. But you have to remain student all the time. Talented guys who are ready to learn would get a fantastic atmosphere in Marathi industry.”

‘Add patience to talent, you will win’

“A MARATHI artist will never compromise with his pride and honour. However, in the Hindi film industry, you have to put up your respect for sale to gain popularity and opportunities. That is why, several legendary Marathi musicians have smaller career-spans in the Hindi film industry,” rues veteran Marathi music director Ashok Patki, explaining his limited success in Bollywood. Patki, who has over 60 Marathi films, 250 Marathi dramas, over 250 Marathi serials and a record break 5000 ad jingles to his credit, was in the city to participate in a musical concert, ‘Radha Hi Bawari.’ He spoke at length on his musical journey, current music scenario, reality shows, and future of Marathi music industry, even as he went on with his rehearsal with local artists, intermittently answering questions and playing his harmonium.
With timeless melodies like ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ and ‘Purab Se Surya Uga’ to his name, Patki’s ‘Zandu Balm,’ ‘Dhara oil,’ and ‘Vicco turmeric cream.’ jingles are on everybody’s lips. “I like to work on jingles. It is more challenging. We get not more than 10 to 15 seconds to make a perfect impact.” Patki’s jingles are a part of our day-to-day life and many of us can recite them word to word. However, very few of us know the man behind these lovable tunes. This is because he has shunned publicity all this while.
“After a 40-year-long journey in the industry, I feel satisfied as my hard work has started showing results at last. I believe that it takes a lot to be successful. Constant effort, patience, and enthusiasm!,” feels Patki, while complaining that the new generation lacks these qualities.
“They want everything instantly. They lack consistency and hard work. It is impossible to gain everything through a single reality show or talent hunt.” According to him, reality shows are overrated and have been given undue importance. “No show can produce a perfect singer as it takes time to get perfection. The most irritating factor is SMS voting by which real talent remains unnoticed,” he states.
Surprisingly, Patki is not trained in Indian classical music. His long stint as assistant to Pt Jitendra Abhisheki, the legend of classical music, gives his music the ‘classical touch.’ “A practical work experience with Panditji taught me much more that a formal education,” he admits humbly.
Today, reputed names in classical music, including Pt Ajit Kadkade, Prabhakar Karekar and Shaunak Abhisheki, sing under his guidance.
“It is important to learn classical, but basically music is God’s gift. You have to have something in you before you start polishing the skill,” he says.
Patki is very optimistic about the new era Marathi cinema. The music of his recent film, ‘Sawali’ is a super-hit even though all compositions are based on classical music. “New concepts in the Marathi film industry are providing musicians a ground to experiment. This is why we are producing different kind of music in Marathi these days,” he says.
Apart from his full-time passion, Patki loves to travel. Recently, he also successfully tried his hand at lyric writing. His composition ‘Radha hi Bawari’ is another all-time hit. Words and tunes are equally important for a perfect composition. “Better words arranged to better tune makes the best song,” he says.
A veteran in his field, Patki sees huge talent in youngsters and advises them to wait patiently for their turn. “If you really have talent, they will notice you. They have to, if you work with passion and dedication,” is his message to young aspirants.

‘Jhadipatti’ flourishes despite commercial onslaught

Pre-published in The Hitavada's 6 March issue


DUE TO increasing impact of satellite TV and booming multiplexes, theatre is threatening to become history in metros. Even plays featuring popular celebrities hardly succeed in garnering a decent audience. In such circumstances, the traditional art movement, Jhadipatti (meaning ‘bush tract’), is still running full throttle. It has not only maintained its audience since decades, but has also succeeded in making and breaking records.
Recently, a Marathi drama, Atmahatya, produced by Shri Venkatesh Natya Mandal, Navargaon, collected Rs 4 lakh for charity in a single show staged at village Vashikora in Chandrapur district on March 14.
“This is due to people’s passion for drama. It was a pleasant surprise for all of us,” reacted Sadanand Borkar, producer of the drama, and head of Venkatesh Natya Mandal, speaking exclusively to The Hitavada over the telephone.
Borkar spoke at length on the Jhadipatti drama movement, present mainstream drama, and Maharashtra Government’s complete disregard towards Jhadipatti.
“Atmahatya is based on the issue of farmers’ suicides in Vidarbha. We expected about 1,000 drama lovers to be there for the show as the figure of advance booking was about Rs 1 lakh, but spot booking doubled the figure. Finally, organisers reshuffled the seating arrangement, and we performed in the open. The show was for charity, so we all are happy to collect a decent (!) amount,” said Borkar.
During the current season, which ended on March 29, Borkar’s Venkatesh Natya Mandal staged total 78 shows of two plays Atmahatya and Maze Kunku Mich Pusale. “All shows were house-full. Collection of Rs 1 lakh or more is usual in one show. People’s love and artists’ dedication are the keys that keep our movement going,” said Borkar.
When Jhadipatti theatre is getting such an overwhelming response in rural areas, what can be wrong with mainstream theatre?
On this, Borkar said, “Jhadipatti movement is altogether different from mainstream theatre. The present professional scene is mostly about cheap humor while the amateur stage is suffering from poor response at the box office and from the audiences.
However, in Jhadipatti, we believe in conveying a message of social interest. Here, we try to involve all aspects of the drama with a social message, which directly touch the hearts of the audience.”
Borkar shared his experience that a huge gathering of thousands of people heard a long monologue on the evil of superstitions at the end of Maze Kunku Mich Pusale, in pin-drop silence. “This is how a drama is staged and watched in Jhadipatti,” he exulted.
Message for others!

We want nothing from Government but attention: Sadanand Borkar, Zadipatti Theatre Activist

JHADIPATTI theatre movement is facing utter disregard from the State Government since generations. “Government spends crores of rupees to encourage cultural activities, especially drama in the State. For amateur drama fests, it allots funds in lakhs while for professional stage, it gives financial assistance to producers. Unfortunately, there is nothing planned for the Jhadipatti movement,” expressed Sadanand Borkar.
Borkar shared an experience from the recent All India Marathi Natya Sammelan, which exposed the ignorance of the Government. During his speech at the Natya Sammelan, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh appealed to producers to produce plays with a message for farmers. He said, “we do not have a drama on farmers’ pathetic condition and nobody has written scripts on this subject.” This was the reaction when his group was staging the 50th show of Atmahatya at the same time in Jhadipatti, lamented Borkar.
His drama group is one of the oldest groups in Jhadipatti. They are planning to construct their own auditorium at Navargaon, of course without a single penny from the Government.
“We never demanded anything from the Government. Ours is a people’s movement and we are surviving since generations because of the people.”