German filmmaker makes documentary on Marathi movie 'Vihir's' star cast

The contemporary Marathi cinema seems to have started to make headway on the international circuit as it being acknowledged by foreign movie makers as a worthy subject.
 
And Marathi film Vihir, recently screened at the Berlin Film Festival, is the perfect example of the process as it is the first movie to have its star cast as the subject of a documentary feature by a German filmmaker.

"Anna Cheaffer, a German documentary filmmaker was so thrilled to see a Marathi movie at Berlin after a gap of over three decades that she decided to make a documentary on it," 'Vihir's director Umesh Kulkarni told PTI.

Umesh turned up at the festival with a ten-member team, including veteran Marathi actors Dr Mohan Agashe, Madan Deodhar, Alok Rajwade, actor-writer and Girish Kulkarni. "Anna has been a great votary of Marathi movies and its culture. Earlier, my movie 'Valu' too was a subject of one her works," he said.

Vihir' was screened at the Babylon theatre in Berlin in 'Generation 14 plus' category where it contested for the coveted 'Crystal Bear' with 15 other movies. Though the movie could not win, Umesh considers being nominated an honor.

"There is no possible explanation for not getting an award," he said. "Getting a nomination in a prestigious film festival like Berlin is in itself an award. There is no possible explanation for not getting an award," Umesh said but was quick to add that the response the film received was heartening.

"Berlin was freezing when the festival was under way. But we got a very warm welcome and response there. The red carpet was full of flash bulbs. All the screenings went jam packed. No one left till the end credits rolled over completely. Over all, the response was extremely overwhelming," Umesh said.

The director seems exceptionally happy to have been a part of such a prestigious circle of movie-makers.

"We too got a chance to see theatre, international cinema and interact with actors and filmmakers from world over. The experience will be of great help in our future work."

He also opined that his film also succeeded in breaking the over-arching belief that Indian cinema is synonymous with Bollywood. The audience connected extremely well with the film, finding it potent and immensely appealing, he said.

Over 3,000 media professionals and cinegoers had converged in the German capital to experience and appreciate various movie-genres.