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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Gharat Ganpati Yet Another Proud Moment For Marathi Cinema I n the steadily growing list of sterling movies being created in Marathi cinema that are also object lessons to Hindi filmmakers in how to make an engrossing and entertaining movie that is also original and has (not compulsory at all) subtle messages to society, Gharat Ganpati is another enthralling addition. Not only does it tell a fresh family story that keeps us chuckling, smiling or touched in the right way, but it also delivers multiple homilies, about parents and children, the generation gap, of opening minds on caste and mar- riages, gender equality and sibling and family bonds that may rust as age increases. The Gharat family lives in a hamlet in Goa, and it has been an age-old tradition to celebrate the Ganpati (Lord Ganesh) festival there for 7 days. The festival is not only looked forward to by the oldest members, Appa (Dr. Sha- rad Bhutadia) and Mai (Sushma Deshpande) but even the youngest ones and the villagers as well. Appa’s younger son, Sharad (Ajinkya Deo) has moved to Mumbai to make a living and is very well-to-do. He comes to the village every year to celebrate along with his wife Ahilya (Ashwini Bhave), son Ketan (Bhushan Pradhan), who works in Delhi, and daughter Neha (Rajasi Bhave). The elder brother, Bhau (Sharad Mone) and his family live with Appa, as does the sister Kusum Atya (Shubhangi Gokhale), whose husband has left her, and her son. A surprise guest arrives during the 124th year of the Ganpati celebration: Ketan’s ‘friend’ from Delhi, Kriti Ahuja (Nikita Dutta), a Yoga instructor who thrives on Instagram. Ketan tells his family that she has come to experience everything about the week-long celebration. Ketan’s mother frowns upon this sudden intrusion but Kriti gradually wins over everyone else. Obviously Ketan has brought Kriti there as they want to marry and wants her to win over his clan. Soon, this truth is out, but there are other issues simmering: Sharad has been financing the Gharat’s Ganpati festival as Bhau, essentially a farmer, can barely makes ends meet. Ten- sions arise as Appa is told that moneys being difficult, the week-long tradition has to be broken and from next year, the idol will be kept only for one-and-a-half days, the minimum period Lord Ganesh is traditionally installed prior to immersion. The youngsters protest, and along- side, there is an undercurrent where Kriti is unfairly made the focus of the unrest in the family by Ahilya. As admiration mounts for Ketan’s ‘boldness’ and Kriti goes upfront about many aspects of the family, emotions and passions boil up to the surface and spill over… There are several points in the last forty minutes or so where I did not want this heartwarming, ingeniously- conceived film to end. This is because, while we all know that the happy ending(s) will happen (as this is a main- stream, nor art film!), the ‘how’ of it can make a film go awry, as has happened in innumerable cases in cinema. Navjyot Narendra Bandiwadekar is a dazzling new entrant as producer-writer and director in feature films after making shorts. Though trained in San Francisco in filmmaking, he is clearly initiated from there into the right aspects of film writing and making, as we can smell ‘Indian / Marathi cinema’ in every frame. The dialogues are a highlight and the technical values are upmarket. The music is average, but obviously the major booster for the film comes from the well-etched characterizations that lead to impeccable performances. Of course, the late Atul Parachure (of Main saamaan leke aaoon? fame from All The Best) does an intermittent voice-over as Lord Ganpati himself and does an excellent job of it! Nikita Dutta, as the outsider, relays the perfect mix of determination and doubt and essays the perfect feel of someone wanting to belong, but on her own terms, to a sweet yet (in many ways) dysfunctional family. Dr. Sharad Bhutadia as Appa, Sanjay Mone as Bhau and Sameer Khandekar as Ashok Bhauji shine among the men, while the female honors go to Shubhangi Latkar as Bhau’s wife Sunanda, Shubhangi Gokhale as Kusum Aatya, Pari Telang as Deepali and Divyalaxmi Maisanam as Aas- hna. As Maai, Sushma Deshpande comes into her own towards the last half an hour. Surprisingly, the only below-par performances come from Ajinkya Deo as Sharad, Ashwini Bhave as Ahilya, who tends to be stiff rather than stern, and Bhushan Pradhan as Ketan. But when a film is so above average, blips like these barely matter. If you want to enjoy yet cherish an original film, do not miss this one even if you do not speak Marathi. There are subtitles and language dubs to help. Rating: **** By RajivVijayakar PHOTO:TrailerVideo Grab Nikita Dutta and Bhushan Pradhan in Gharat Ganpati. AR Rahman And Wife Saira Announce Separation After Nearly Three Decades Of Marriage Shah Rukh Khan And Sons To Come Together In Mufasa: The Lion King R enowned music composer AR Rahman and his wife Saira have decided to part ways after nearly 30 years of marriage. The couple, who got mar- ried in an arranged ceremony in 1995, made the announcement through a statement issued by Saira’s lawyer, Vandana Shah, highlighting the emotional chal- lenges that led to this decision. The statement read, “After many years of marriage, Mrs. Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband, Mr. AR Rahman. Despite their deep love for each other, the emotional strain and challenges in their relationship have created an unbridgeable gap. This decision, though painful, has been taken after much thought and agony.” Saira has requested privacy during this difficult time, emphasizing her need for space and understanding from the public. “This is a deeply personal and emotional chapter of my life, and I urge everyone to respect our family’s privacy,” the statement added. The couple, parents to three children—Khatija, Ra- heema, and Ameen—have been known for keeping their personal lives private while maintaining a prominent public presence. AR Rahman, who rose to fame with musical master- pieces like Roja and Bombay in the 1990s, previously shared in an interview that his marriage was arranged by his mother. At the time, Rahman was deeply engrossed in his career, working on iconic projects like Rangeela. Re- flecting on his marriage, Rahman admitted that balanc- ing personal and professional life was not always easy, and his wife initially found it challenging to adjust to the limitations of being in the public eye. On the professional front, the Oscar-winning compos- er continues to work on several major projects, including Raayan, directed by Dhanush, and multilingual films like Chhaava, Thug Life, and Gandhi Talks. This decision marks a significant shift in their lives, but both Rahman and Saira are seeking to move forward with dignity and respect for each other’s choices. I ndian cinema’s most celebrated voices come to- gether to bring heart, soul, and grandeur to 2024’s most anticipated family entertainer, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions. The Hindi version has the interesting aspect of Shah Rukh Khan, 58, and his two sons Aryan, 27 and AbRam, 13, coming together for the first time, even if as just voices, Mufasa: The Lion King, one of the most anticipated cinematic spectacles, is all set to roar with a brand new tale, taking audiences back to the journey of Mufasa’s rise as the legendary King. In a move that has thrilled fans, we will hear voices of some of the most celebrated superstars from across the country who have lent their voices to this visual extravaganza. Shah Rukh Khan and Mahesh Babu are the voices of Mufasa in Hindi and Telugu respectively, and have created a huge buzz and built a massive anticipation for the film. It has just been announced that Tamil actor Arjun Das is the voice of Mufasa in Tamil. The makers know the pulse of the audience and have pulled in the biggest stars from each region. Along with the voice of Mufasa, the film boasts of interesting names voicing for other key characters across these three languages. Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan will voice Simba, while his youngest son AbRam Khan will play Mufasa as cub. Sanjay Mishra will be Pumbaa, Shreyas Talpade is Timon and Makrand Deshpande is Rafiki. Meiyang Chang will be the voice of Taka. By RajivVijayakar By News Dispatches Entertainment News India Times (November 23 - November 29, 2024) November 29, 2024 26 PHOTO:CourtesyANI AR Rahman and Saira.