Gabhricha Paus' gets international funding

PUNE: Marathi film Gabhricha Paus' (The Damned Rain) that was screened at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) earlier this year, has earned the distinction of being the first Indian film to be selected for distribution grant of the Hubert Bals Fund at the International Film Festival, Rotterdam.
The film, directed by debutante Satish Manwar, narrates the plight of drought-stricken farmers in Vidarbha.Starring actors Girish Kulkarni, Sonali Kulkarni, Aman Attar and Jyoti Subhash, the film tells the story of a farmer Kisna, played by Girish Kulkarni and attempts to show his trials and tribulations while trying to support his family.
"While making the film you always wish that it does well and is received well from all quarters. I'm happy that our hard work has paid off and the film is getting its due recognition," says Manwar.
The Hubert Bals Fund is designed to help film makers complete their projects and distribute them, as is the case with Gabhricha Paus'. Till now, the fund has supported almost 750 projects across the world. Other than the distribution grant, the fund also hands out grants for post-production, digital production and script and project development.
"I had no money left once we had completed the film and so we started showcasing it at different festivals in the hope that someone will come forward to help us distribute it. But when nothing happened for a while I thought of returning to work and earning some money, but that would have taken too long," says Prashant Pethe, the film's producer, who is also a merchant navy officer.
The news of the film being selected for the fund came as a ray of hope for both Pethe and Manwar, who say that though the grant of 15,000 Euros would not be enough to distribute the film all over the state, it is nonetheless a start.
"It is unfortunate that help had to come from outside, but we are glad it came. The funds will go a long way in distributing the film in Mumbai and Pune, we are also deliberating on releasing it in Nagpur and Amravati, where the film is based," says Pethe, who was also the co-producer of the much acclaimed Valu.'
He adds that it is difficult to find a distributor for a Marathi film unless and until it is an out-and-out entertainer. "The way the subject and the script were treated is what prompted me to produce the film. The investors fear that they will not get returns if they invest in a Marathi film which is not a comedy. This is a completely false notion," Pethe says.
The president of the All-India Marathi Film Federation (AIMFF), Ajay Sarpotdar says, it is critical that films with sensitive subjects like Gabhricha Paus' and Jogwa' reach the masses. "Distribution is a major factor in the making of a film. In fact, we suggested the state government to allocate a part of its budget to films like these for distribution and promotion purposes, instead of giving subsidies," said Sarpotdar.
But Pethe feels that the best way to release a film is with your own funds. "Eventually, it is you who has absolute confidence in your film and that is what helps," he concludes.