Marathi films sweep desi awards in UK

The recently concluded second edition of the Edinburgh Festival of Indian Films & Documentaries, which celebrates the best in new and classic Indian cinema, saw an array of Marathi outings sweep the top honours. Popular Marathi actor-singer Prasad Oak's debut directorial venture, Kaccha Limbu, not only bagged the Golden Calton for Best Film, but also received a standing ovation.

Pooja Sawant

The film, based on Jaywant Dalvi's book Runanubandha, chronicles the struggles faced by a couple raising a mentally challenged son. An elated Oak stated that his "first ever award" was like a "dream come true". The film was also awarded a Jury Special Mention for the Best Ensemble Performance for their "moving and wonderful acts".

Naik and Sawant in Lapachhapi

Pooja Sawant bagged the Golden Calton for Best Performance in a Lead Role gong for Vishal Furia's Lapachhapi. The film also won in the supporting role category, with Usha Naik taking the title home. The veteran tells mid-day, "Usually, horror films are associated with ghosts and ill-figured caricatures, but this film deals with it differently. It highlights how some people misuse the superstitious behaviours of others, and the resultant scary situations."

A still from Kaccha Limbu

While she laments not having received as many awards during the prime of her career, Naik says that she can still benefit from the titles she wins. "It opens many doors." Evidently ecstatic about his leading ladies' win, Furia tells mid-day, "The festival did not have any gender specific awards, with only one actor winning the leading and supporting role titles. [That my actors bagged these awards] make the wins even more special."

Prasad Oak

Furia's film battled industry releases like Jagga Jasoos and Munna Michael to enjoy a nine-week run in the country when it released earlier this year. Being helmed as a game-changer in the genre, horror, says Furia, is among the most abused genres in Bollywood. "Most of the films are ripped off Hollywood or Korean films, even though India has sufficient fodder for the creation of novel stories. I've explored the pressing issue of female infanticide through horror. Also, since it was made in a regional language, I could approach it without worrying about commercialising it," says Furia, who now hopes to reinvent the place of horror in Hindi cinema too.

Vishal Furia

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