MUMBAI: The Sahyadri Monsoon Marathi Chitrapat Mahotsav got under way at a glittering ceremony on Friday evening with cine stars descending at Doordarshan Mumbai Kendra.
Inaugurating the festival, which will continue till 20th July, Veteran Actor - Jeetendra, Eminent Theater and Film Personality Vikram Gokhale, Shri Kiran Shantaram, Shri Vijay Kondke - President of the Akhil Bharatiya Chitrapat Mandal assured to extend all assistance to promote regional films in Konkani and Marathi. The festival opened with 'Badha', directed by Sumitra Bhave and Shri Sunil Sukhtankar.
Actor, Jeetendra remembered his mentor and great Film Maker Shri V. Shantaram and appreciated the new Marathi Cinema which is more driven by its culture and literature.
The Art of Film Making and the inspiration to create good cinema was in deeply discussed by Vikram Gokhale. He asked the students to learn the art of differentiating good cinema and a regular/entertainment cinema.
Addl.DG - Doordarshan, Shri Mukesh Sharma expressed his view to continue this Chitrapat Mahotsav every year for providing a platform to the young media aspirants.
More than 500 students participated and enjoyed the interactive sessions with the Film Makers. Director, Sunil Sukhtankar appreciated the unique idea of presenting and discussing their film with the young aspirant who attended the film festival.
Mukesh Sharma's views on MMCM
Marathi Cinema is the oldest and a pioneer film industry in India. The first Marathi movie released in India by Dadasaheb Torne was Shree Pundalik and also the first full –length feature film “Raja Harishchandra” directed by Dadasaheb Phalke was a Marathi film which clearly demarcates the contribution of Marathi Cinema in building the entire film industry.
In past few years, Marathi cinema industry has produced many films that are not only critically acclaimed but commercially successful as well. It has brought fresh ideas, untouched subjects and deeper human sensitivity on the celluloid.
With outstanding contribution and efforts from different producers and directors of the Mumbai film industry, Marathi cinema has relatively outshined other Indian film industries in the current scenario.
In order to promote good cinema the Public Service Broadcaster, Shri Mukesh Sharma –Addl. DG, Doordarshan is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts. The Sahyadri Monsoon Marathi Chitrapat Mahotsav will showcase eight films which have received National Award or have been selected as Indian Panorama and are showcased as the opening films in many International Film Festivals.
With so much of viewing fragmentation happening in the society because of numerous channel it is not possible for the viewers to consume all the content at one go, keeping this in mind Doordarshan Mumbai decided to screen the Best of Marathi Cinema directly to the viewers without any ad and break’s in the Sahyadri Monsoon Marathi Chitrapat Mahotsav.
It is surely going to be a feast for the eyes and a bonanza for Cinema Lovers to enjoy these films in the presence of its Director’s/ Cast & Crew who will present their films before and after the screening with the invited audience. All the above interactive sessions between the audience and Director/ Cast & Crew will be recorded continuously for the entire three days by the DDK Mumbai.
These Award Winning Marathi Films will also be telecast on DD SAHYADRI for television audience and the recorded interactive sessions will be a part of each film.
The icing on the cake will be the presence of Veteran Actors like Jeetendra Kapoor, Vikram Gokhale and Shri Kiran Shantaram to inaugurate this festival.