Author: Nitin Patil
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: January 2, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/256776.html
Introduction: 30 years after Manthan, a Hindi
movie made by a cooperative; it's about the coming of age of four youngsters,
based on a Marathi novel
This Friday, an unusual movie will hit the
screens.
As many as 150 people-among them students,
doctors and engineers from all over Maharashtra-have pooled in money to make
the full-length feature film in Hindi, Humne Jeena Seekha Liya.
Made by the Spandan Parivar Cinema Movement
(SPCM) at a cost of Rs 85 lakh, this movie is arguably the second such cooperative
venture in Hindi-the first one came 30 years ago when dairy farmers of Gujarat
contributed Rs 2 each to make the Shyam Benegal film, Manthan.
Says Gaurav Khande, a student of Symbiosis
College, Pune: "I contributed Rs 70,000 for the film. But compared to
the money I put in, what I got to learn is invaluable. The film's shoot served
as a real workshop for understanding the art of film-making."
"We are a group of 150 people. Each member
gave financial contribution to make the film happen. It was like contributing
for a family ceremony," he adds.
The film, based on a Marathi novel Shaala
by Milind Bokil, is about the coming of age of four friends studying in Class
IX. The film will be screened first in Maharashtra, followed by Delhi and
Indore, before an all-India release.
Says Milind Ukey, the director, "This
is a very unique co-operative effort. Whatever profits we earn will be shared
among the members. The amount will be returned to the contributor with his
share of profit in it along with the interest."
Spandan Parivar was established by Amarjeet
Amle in 2000 to support youngsters from the lower strata of the society. "Through
Spandan, we want to prove that for making a career in films, one does not
necessarily need a godfather. We help such youngsters realise their dreams.
Spandan works as a family and all of us are like farmers and cultivators of
cinema," points out Amle.
During the making of the film, there was a
crew of about 80 people, of which 50 were members of SPCM. Humne's shooting
started in December 2006 and ended in July 2007. It was shot in four schedules,
spreading over 35 days.
The movement, which was started in Mumbai,
now has members spread over Maharashtra. Till now, it has made about 100 short
films. Humne Jeena Seekh Liya is their first full-length film. Besides, about
80 schoolchildren, the film also features seasoned Marathi actors Milind Gunaji,
Reema Lagoo and Girish Oak.
Minus a mega star cast and conventional promos,
Amle and his team found it difficult to distribute the film. "We screened
the film to distributors and theatre-owners. But since there is no star, so
to say, in the film, they were rather sceptical about it. It was then that
we decided to take on the challenge of distributing the film ourselves,"
he says.
