Ravi Jadhav, director of the Marathi film Natrang is overwhelmed by the film’s runaway success. That the Hindi film industry too is taking notice of it and big-ticket directors are signing up the film’s crew will make him even more proud.
“Bachchanji has shown keen interest in watching Natrang. He told Jadhav that he has heard rave reviews of the film and the subject has been sensitively handled,” said sources who witnessed their meeting recently in Pune. Bachchan was there to launch the website of Ajay-Atul Gogavle, the siblings who recently received a national film award for music composition.
Even Salman Khan and his family have expressed a desire to see the film. “They will be going to a suburban theatre on Sunday to see the movie. I’m happy that Bollywood icons have warmed up to a Marathi film. Coming from an advertising background, I conceptualised the film as a product that has to sell, and am happy to see it succeed,” said Jadhav.
The success of Natrang has led to a number of Bollywood producers and directors lining up to sign the Natrang crew for various projects. Jadhav is working on two films — one in Marathi and the other in Hindi — and is close to being signing by a big producer. “I am proud that Hindi film producers have approached me and the rest of crew of Natrang after witnessing the success of a Marathi film. It is a big achievement,” he said.
The film’s music composers Ajay Atul have also won fans across the Hindi film industry. Recently, Shubha Mudgal, who has never met the duo, praised them in a national newspaper. Such has been the power of their composition of the song Apsara Aali, that director Sanjay Leela Bansali has signed them too. However, the duo has made it clear that Bollywood is not their destination.
“Bansali has been following our music since the last five years. We may compose for Hindi films, but they are not our destination. We want to raise the level of Marathi music further, take it abroad, and make the world notice us,” said Atul Gogavle, adding, “This is the first time that a national award has been given to music composers for a Marathi film — Jogva. This is a huge inspiration and achievement for the Marathi film industry.”
On Apsara Aali, Atul said, “Although it is a lavani song, we gave it a pure essence that reminded people of their roots. It is the same feeling one gets while eating the varan-bhaat made by one’s mother.”