Rajendra Talak's award winning film "Aleesha" is being screened in Cine Alankar almost unknown to the local populace. There is only one show at 6.30 P.M...and 15 September is the last day it will be screened in Mhapsa. It is a good movie running to an almost empty audience.
The film is about a mine-owner family and its interaction with the residents of the mining belt. It could be any of the mining families in Goa, with a young scion taking learning the ropes and a pretty, educated daughter-in-law in the wings. Priyanka Bidaye plays the lead role well, a bit dramatised for the effect. It is Prashanti Talpankar, lecturer in Dnyanaprasarak Mandal's College on the outskirts of Mhapsa and a writer in her own rights[ besides being the wife of Sunaparant Editor, Sandesh Prabhu Desai] who grabs the attention in her role as "Philo", the wife of a deceased truck driver in the mining belt. The film ably depicts the changing trend in mining, with afforestation and social concern increasing in the mining companies. the role in real life that is played by qualified and professional Environmental Managers working under a ISO 14001 regime is shown in reel life as led by the daughter-in-law. I know what I am talking about, since I have been working with agriculture in the mining areas in Bicholim taluka and crop loss estimations since the Orwellian year, 1984. Overall, it is a A class film, though without the song-and dance sequences at outstation locales. The depiction of various trends in the villages is quite realistic. The little known registered [in 2000] society by the name of "Bardez Konkani Asmitai Kendra" led by Ms. Nutan Sakhardande felicitated the Director, Rajendra Talak, with a Shriphal and a shawl at the hands of Shrirang Narvekar, theatre personality who has done a bit role with Al Braganza in the classic konkani film "Amchem Noxib". Shrirang lamented that, while Konkani films of yore ran to full houses for a month in one cinema hall during the 1960s, a good film like 'Aleesha" now drew only luke warm response for less than a week.Malayalam and Kannada films had better audiences in our Bhangarachem Goem. Even the special rate of Rs.10/- for school students has not evoked much response. "Where has the love of Konkani and things Goan gone? " he wondered. Rajendra Talak said he was not unduly worried about the poor public response. He was happy that at least one organisation was working to promote viewership of Konkani films. We need more such organisations to rekindle the pride in our mother tongue. If just one lakh persons from the 14 lakh population watched a Konkani film paying an average ticket of Rs.25/-, the Rs.25 lakhs raised therefrom would would contribute about 40% to the producer to support the production of a film with a budget of about Rs.10 lakhs. Thank God for IFFI 2004. At least "Aleesha" got noticed. It is not about the money, but rather the appreciation that motivates one to continue, said Talak. Mhapsekars , Aldonkars, Moidekars, Assagaokars and others on these lists cna make the last day of the film Aleesha in Mhapsa a day to remember. See the film at 6.30 P.M. on Thursday, 15 September at Cine Alankar. You can relish the batatwadas, rassa omlette- pao, tandoori or fresh fruit plate outside the movie hall after the show. Like Expressions, they are world famous all over Goa! Viva Goa. Miguel