Sant Tukaram is back

Seventy six years after Bhakti saint-poet — Sant Tukaram got an overwhelming response from audiences — he is making a comeback to the Marathi silver screen in a film that will hit the theatres in May. It may be recalled that when legendary film-maker V Shantaram’s had produced the film in 1936, it swept virtually every award.

Chandrakant Kulkarni is directing the film with Jeetendra Joshi in the lead role. “The story features Sant Tukaram (1608-1650) whose importance and popularity hasn’t diminished over the centuries. On the contrary, his relevance keeps growing and his unmatched genius is lauded by both elites and the common man. Tukaram’s greatness has been acknowledged by intellectuals and writers of diverse eras from Mahadev Govind Ranade to Dilip Purushottam Chitre,” said director Kulkarni, who has been associated with projects like Bindhaast, Kaaydyacha Bola and Kadachit which have been successes both critically and at the box office.

Prashant Dalvi, who has done the story, screenplay and dialogues said, “While showcasing the life and times of this shop-keeper-turned-saint whose abhangs and philosophy find resonances with today’s world was important, we had to also find a way of highlighting what made him so exceptional.” With Tukaram, producer Sanjay Chhabria, who has produced major hits Mee Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy, Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho and Haapus has once again shown his willingness to back meaningful, well-made projects.

“The moment I was told of the project, I said yes. The whole team has done a great job. Obviously, we are now excited about the response. Particularly since the promos on the internet have got so many hits,” he said. While Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner Aniruddha Joshi, Dnyaneshwar Meshram, Jahnvi Prabhu Arora and Avdhoot Gupte have given playback, the cinematography is by Rajen Kothari and the costumes have been designed by Poornima Oak.