Saturday, March 22, 2014

Gabhricha Paus (The Damned Rain)

Language – Marathi
What is the movie about?
After yet another farmer suicide in the village, Alka (Sonali Kulkarni) suspects that her husband, Kisna (Girish Kulkarni) is also contemplating death. But Kisna is confident that although it hadn't rained in two years, with the benevolence of the rain gods and a little financial help, he can sow a crop whose harvest will erase his debts. He sows seeds, only to find that the monsoon is delayed. This time, when the rain arrives, it submerges the seeds. The surviving crop is seized to offset Kisna's debts. When Kisna takes a loan to install a motor to pump water to his field, Alka's fears come true in a rather unexpected, ironic manner.
Who is it by?
Satish Manwar has written and directed this movie.
Why should I watch it?
Gabhricha Paus contextualizes farmer suicides in Maharashtra even as it remains true to the black comedy genre. The vagaries of nature are portrayed to be only one among many reasons leading to failed crops and farmer deaths.
An edited version of the article was published in Culturama's October 2012 Issue.

No comments: