23 November,2009 11:18 AM IST | | Janhavi Samant
The premiere of Marathi film, Sukhant The Final Wish, turned out to be quite a glitzy affair. A big crowd of renowned Marathi and Hindi cine and TV artists the enterprising couple, Supriya and Sachin Pilgaonkar, the dynamic Reema Lagoo, the talented Renuka Shahane, the gorgeous Sonali Bendre with husband Goldie Behl, the versatile singer Sonu Nigam, Bollywood's sweetheart Shreyas Talpade, Marathi mulgi Mugdha Godse etc.
Turned up at PVR cinemas Juhu to show their support for a film attempted on an unusual subject Euthanasia.
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The film revolves around the character of lawyer Pratap Gunje and the unique dilemma in his personal and professional life he goes through when he appeals to the court to grant permission to mercy kill his own mother Sitabai, who has been a fiercely independent woman and has been a quadriplegic and totally bed-ridden due to an unfortunate accident.
Not surprisingly, working on this difficult subject has been a learning experience for its cast and crew.
Debutant producer Anuya Mhaiskar agrees. "This film has been a great learning experience. It has not only taught me the nuances of film production but also made me stop thinking about death as a taboo.
I realise now that death will always be around and it needs to be discussed," she mentioned, while playing charming hostess thanking everyone from make-up artists to politicians for attending.
Added Atul, between posing for countless pictures with his co-stars Jyoti Chandekar and Kavita Medhekar, "Euthanasia is something we have always discussed in private circles.
This film is probably the first time this subject will be discussed openly. I hope it will also trigger an open dialogue with our lawmakers like the Nikita Mehta abortion case."
Jyoti Chandekar, who plays the mother in the film said, "My challenge was to only express through my face because the accident has made me invalid from the neck down. The role is very strong and the dilemma is one we all have faced in our lives at some time or another."
So will the audiences appreciate such a serious topic? If the appreciative murmurs during the interval were anything to go by, they will definitely.
"We keep hearing that Marathi cinema has to do something different. As producers we have tried to present a different topic with an interesting narrative.
Now it is the audience's responsibility to show their support and encouragement. And I am hopeful they will," signed off Anuya on a positive note.
Also seen were: politicians Vasant Davkhure, A R Antulay, socialite Dolly Thakore, actors Atul Parchure etc.
