‘People in Vidarbha do not have guts to invest in films being made here’

Pursuing one's profession could be gratifying, but realizing one's passion is truly fulfilling. Dr Sharayu Pazare, a general surgeon who runs a nursing home in Chandrapur, could not discard her love for creative art and history even as she took the hospital rounds or performed surgeries.
“Beyond the sterile confines of an operation theatre I always yearned for a stage that would satisfy this creative urge in me,” she says by way of explaining her need to produce Marathi feature film ‘Taatva’ that released across the state this Friday.She also plays the hero’s mother.
In a chat with TOI, Pazare elaborates upon how it happened and her plans for the future. Excerpts from the interview...
Q. How did the idea of producing a film strike?
A. I read a lot of history. Chandrapur is very rich in its cultural heritage if we consider the numerous forts in this region, sculptures and idols that have been found here during various excavations. The ‘Patharvat samaj’ here which were engaged in making idols and structures from stone got dissolved over the years. I had this urge to bring back the focus on them and make a film with a relevant social message.
Q. So your film focuses on this now obsolete tribe?
A. Yes, partially but it also gives out a strong social message that today we live in an era of educational equality and, caste and social status should be of no consequence. My film tells a story of a poor girl from the Patharvat samaj and a foreign educated boy falling in love with her. He promises to take her talent and art forward. He faces a lot of opposition from his family but eventually everybody come around.
Q. How did you pick up your actors and film crew?
A. The story required local actors. But Sanjay Shejwal, who plays the male lead, is from Mumbai and is himself a qualified actor who guided me throughout the making. Gauri Konge, who is from Pune, plays the female lead Shilpa. The film is directed by well known actor and director of Marathi cinema Arun Nalavde. The art director of the film is Sadanand Borkar, the well-known artist of Zaddi Patti rangmanch who also runs an art and acting school in Navargaon. I got other actors from his school. I fortunately got the setting and the cast which was just right for the subject.
Q The film has been shot entirely in Chandrapur. Was this done to economize on the cost?
A. People say that Chandrapur is very hot but we have still managed to maintain a lot of greenery in and around the city. There are many temples in this city and we could use them for the film. There are fields of yellow flowers where we have shot a song and it has looked beautiful on the camera. Besides I could also find donkeys here, which were widely used by the ‘Patharvat Samaj’ (laughs). With the film being shot in Chandrapur, I could wrap up the entire schedule in just 22 days despite the heat. But the most important reason for shooting in Chandrapur is that I wanted to promote the natural beauty of this place.
Q. But did you get the equipment required for shooting a film locally?
A. No I had to source it from Solapur and Pune. The post-production of the film was done in Pune and Mumbai. The song writers, composers and singers too are well known names from Marathi film industry.
Q. What kind of a message does your film give?
A. I want this message to go far and wide that those who appear well established today have also struggled a lot in their lives to achieve their current status. Poverty should not be a limitation if one has faith in oneself and his or her talent. In today’s society social evils like caste have no place.
Q. Do you think Vidarbha has the potential to develop as a hub of film production?
A. The region has tremendous potential as it has talent, environment and suitable locations. What it lacks in is the willingness of investors. My film has been made on a budget of more than Rs1 crore. People in Vidarbha don’t have the guts to invest in films being made here. But I want to create an environment for filmmaking. If I succeed with this film I will be making more here. I feel Vidarbha should get a film city on lines of one in Hyderabad.
Q. How big a release had you planned for your film?
A. My plan was to release it in 80 theatres across the state. But my film clashed with that of Sachin Tendulkar and so I found it hard to get that many theatres. Ironically, maximum problems I faced were in Vidarbha region. Elsewhere, I could get the desired number of screens.