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Famed Nachom-ia director eyes next
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New film to be set with stories from the 1975-85 era
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Prior to 'Nachom-ia Kumpasar', the scenario of Konkani cinema was not that great. People told us that we were crazy to spend so much on this film
-- Bardroy Barretto, director
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PANAJI
Bardroy Barretto, director of the national award winning Goan film 'Nachom-ia Kumpasar' has revealed that his next project will be set in the 1975-85 era.
“These were my growing years and I believe that there are a lot of stories to tell around this period,” said Barretto, while speaking at the Meet the Director held as part of the ongoing International Film Festival of India 2015. 'Nachom-ia Kumpasar', a tribute to Goan music and musicians of the 60's and 70's is one of the films that has been selected under the Indian Panaroma section.
Speaking further about the film, Barretto stated that prior to this the scenario of Konkani cinema was not that great. “People told us that we were crazy to spend so much on this film,” he revealed. Palomi Ghosh, who played the female lead in the film, also added that she knew very little about Konkani music prior to playing the 'life changing role'. “But once you hear the music it stays with you,” she says, adding that although she is a Bengali, picking up the Konkani language was not very hard for her. “Unless you know the songs in the film by heart you could not emote them. But there are similarities between the Bengali and Konkani language. Also as I have been in Mumbai for many years I had picked up Marathi. Plus I love languages,” she said, adding that she was still waiting for the opportunity to meet Goan singer Lorna, who's songs she performs in the movie.
Another film that has been selected in the Panaroma section is 'Koti', the first film by director Suhas Suryakant Bhosle and deals with the transgender issue. It tells the tale of a family in rural India where the older son is a transgender. Unable to cope up with the social ostracism, they decide to send him away, but the younger brother takes a stand and resists the family. “While there have been films made around this issue before, this was a new approach looking at it from a child's perspective. We have come across many transgenders in our life and I in fact used to get afraid of them. However, we rarely ever meet a child of this sort or give a thought about how the parents can abandon these children,” said Bhosle. “The question that this film seeks to address is why can't they live with us. We didn't make them so who are we to cast them aside?”
Bengali film-maker Satarupa Sanyal whose film 'Onyo Opalaa' and 'Anu' are part of this year's Panaroma selection said that she was overwhelmed by the appreciation that the film 'Onyo Opalaa' received at the screening. She also added that she would love to work on a children's movie in the future and already had the script ready.
