21 September,2009 08:42 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Paresh Mokashi, whose debut film Harishchandrachi Factory is India's entry to the Oscars, tells MiD DAY how the underdog emerged a winner
When Paresh Mokashi's underdog film Harishchandr-achi Factory (HF) got chosen to represent India at the Oscars, the parallels between his film and his life stood unnoticed on the sidelines.
The film depicts the struggle of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, while making Raja Harishchandra in 1913, India's first feature film. Mokashi, who was born and brought up in Pune and is now based in Mumbai, also faced numerous struggles to make his debut film.
When he did not find any one to produce HF, Mokashi mortgaged his home, with his father's complete support, to make the film. "I had to do this only because many Bollywood producers insisted I do this film in Hindi. I refused to succumb to their pressure," he said. He went on to direct and produce the film.
But Mokashi is not bitter. Mokashi, who started his career with experimental theatre, believes he has finally started getting his dues. His film after all is the second Marathi film after Shwaas in 2004 to be selected as India's official entry to the Oscars.u00a0
Said Mokashi "It was au00a0u00a0 proud moment, more so because my film is on Phalke, the pioneer of Indian cinema who was also a Maharashtrian."u00a0
Big release
And he is now only interested in looking forward. Both he and the cast and crew are hoping that the Oscar tag means that the film will now release across the country, not only in Maharashtra, with a bang.
It is slated for a December release. "We are trying to reach as many places as we can. We are working out the strategy of how to release in big cinema houses all over Maharashtra as well as in the big metro cities across the country," said Mokashi.
He will have to submit the prints to the Oscar Academy by October 1. "It is certainly a major achievement that we could compete with about 50 films in India and get selected as India's Oscar entry. But now we will face the biggest competition of all. We will be up against at least 500 films from all over the world," he concluded.
