Small budget Konkani film a big draw

While Goa remains largely unrepresented at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2007 here, a small budget Konkani movie is making waves at the peripheral activities of the 10-day event.

'Zuzari' (The Fighter), based on Goa's freedom struggle, is produced by Suhas Sawardekar, who hails from the state.

Made at a shoe-string budget of Rs 20 lakh, the film is based on real incidents that happened in pre-Goa liberation in 1961. Shot entirely in the coastal state, it has local cast.

"We could not premiere it as part of IFFI as we got the Censor Board certificate a bit late," Sawardekar, also the writer of the film, told PTI.

"We, however, managed to get the slot in peripheral activities of the fest," he said.

The film, the first production by Sawardekar, got good response when it was screened at the Poinguini in remote Canacona taluka, Mapusa, Sanguem and Quepem as part of IFFI- related activities.

The film depicts the chasm between Goa freedom fighters' expectation of a golden era and the state's volatile politics and its turncoat politicians, who have "ruined" the tourist paradise.

"It's a strong statement on politics of today compared to our history," Sawardekar, who has penned several Konkani dramas, said.

With multiplex and theatres not keen to exhibit Konkani movies, the producer intends to showcase the film at private invitations. "After sometime, we may release the film on DVDs and CDs," he said.