It's all shaking a bit much and the seat belt sign is on. We are somewhere over Tehran and while these pax have taken my twitter advice and fallen asleep after breakfast, I cannot help but wonder about watching my first Marathi movie last evening. "Devool", not sure if that's how you say it, on Star Pravaah. The @punkuzz and I have been exclaiming for ages now, while surfing the channels as to only if they would show the movies with subtitles. Whereas, the @punkuzz claims to be a movie buff, (language no bar), it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I myself enjoy quality cinema. Whereas, language is a bar for me and foreign language films are welcome only if accompanied by english subtitles. I have frequently inquired with my south Indian friends, colleagues if I can get their regional language movie DVDs with subtitles but no luck so far. However, of all the places possible, they said I am likely to get them in, wait for it..... Dubai(!), which is currently an offline station for me (stupid #crewlife).
I loved Devool. It was fresh, rustic, extremely down to earth, slightly raw, witty and almost embarrassing. The subject matter revolves around commercialization of God and worshipping. Strangely it reached out to me. There isn't such a temple premises where I have been and haven't had a fight, and this includes Shirdi. The simplicity and the lack of unnecessary complexity of rural life refreshed my childhood memory of when I got to spend carefree days at different villages and even give pretend-help to the extended family in farming. What a difference in the quality and principles of life.
I am sure it wasn't one of 'the' best Marathi movies and the number of such good movies isn't small at all. Yet when the @punkuzz says, 'why can't they make Gujarati movies like this?', I cannot help but wonder, 'Yes, why don't they?'. It's inevitable for me to compare the new things with the ones that are already known to me.
What is it that makes Marathi cinema accountable? Mood, aesthetics, awareness, receptivity of the audience? If so, what leaves Gujaratis far behind? Why must they churn out mindless, archeologically themed flicks that do nothing but humiliate the audience's rather common sense. However, one of the factors, could be the cosmopolitan culture of Marathi speaking Mumbaikars (and likes) towards whom I am guessing this cinema is aimed at. So until the Gujjus manage to keep up, I guess I am going to have to make-do with the other states.
