Oscar entry Marathi film affected by political deadlock

The makers of Marathi film Shwaas (Breath), India's Oscar entry and winner of the National Award for Best Film 2004, can breathe easy, now that a new state government is expected to be sworn in today.

The men behind Shwaas, promised government financial backing to promote the film in the US, had been worried by the political stalemate in the state.

In the last few days, the creators of Shwaas have taken assistance from public and private donors so that they could begin their promotional drive for the film in the US.

Sponsors are not willing to come forward to hype a regional film as they feel it won't get them as much mileage as a Hindi film would.

"There are three official screenings of every film in Los Angeles but most of the 1,500-2,000 members of the Academy Awards are scattered all over the US and, therefore, it is imperative that we campaign for our film in every important venue in that country," Sandeep Sawant, director of Shwaas, told Gulf News.

"We are planning to promote our film through newspapers, TV shows, private screenings and in whatever possible way we can," said the 36-year-old debut film maker. A website of Shwaas will also be launched this week, he said.

Three years ago, when Lagaan was nominated for the Oscars, producer Aamir Khan and director Ashutosh Gowarikar spent two months in the US, promoting the film. But money was not a problem there as it was a Hindi film. They found many sponsors. But, regional movies like Shwaas are not so lucky.

A national award for a Marathi film has come after 50 years and now supporters are rallying around the film-makers to ensure that Shwaas, unlike Aamir Khan starrer Lagaan, comes back with an Oscar award. When the film was in the making, Sawant said, "We left no stone unturned to make a real good movie that had a universal appeal even though it was in Marathi. That was our motivation. We did not think of any award but knew it would capture the interest of people in India and abroad."

Shwaas is based on a story written by Madhavi Gharpure, focusing on a real-life incident that happened in Pune 12 years ago.

The film is about a villager, played by Arun Nalawade, who brings his grandson Paarsha to the city where he learns that he has a rare eye cancer.

Surgery is a must to save the young boy's life but it would also leave him blind for the rest of his life.

A simple film, it won a National Award for the Best Film but reaching for the Oscars is a different story.

The team including producer turned actor Nalawade have less than a fortnight to storm the US. They expect promoting the film to cost Rs 15-20 million (Dh1.2-1.6 million).

So far, support has come from political parties and even schoolchildren. The BJP has already given Rs 500,000 (Dh4,035), the Shiv Sena has planned a collection drive on October 30 and the Nationalist Congress Party has assured support.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is taking a personal interest and other NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and R.R. Patil have promised help.

The film was screened for all the NCP legislators recently. "Even the Maharashtra Mandal in the US has assured us support," he said. Yet, the amount collected so far is Rs2 million (Dh161,500).

By November 10, the first team of marketing experts will leave for the US and another will leave after a week to complete the statewide campaign in time for the nominations on January 25, 2005. The Oscars are scheduled for February 27, 2005.

Sponsors are not willing to come forward to hype a regional film as they feel it won't get them as much mileage as a Hindi film would.