Astu

Last updated

Astu
Astu poster.jpg
Astu poster
Marathi अस्तु
Directed by
Written bySumitra Bhave
Screenplay bySumitra Bhave
Story bySumitra Bhave
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMilind Jog
Edited by Mohit Takalkar
Music by
  • Saket Kanetkar
  • Dhananjay Kharwandikar
Release dates
  • July 2013 (2013-07)(Indian Film Festival Stuttgart)
  • 15 July 2016 (2016-07-15)
Running time
123 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMarathi

Astu: So Be It (or simply Astu) is a 2015 Indian Marathi-language film directed by the duo Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Suktankar, starring Mohan Agashe, Iravati Harshe, Milind Soman, and Amruta Subhash. The film tells the story of Chakrapani Shastri, a Sanskrit scholar who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Contents

Plot

Dr. Chakrapani Shastri, fondly known as Appa, is a retired Sanskrit professor and a former director of the Oriental Research Institute in Pune. Shastri currently lives with Ram, a young student, as his caretaker, and has been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's disease. One day, as Ram has to appear for his exams, Shastri's elder daughter Ira brings Shastri to her house. While driving back home, Ira stops at a shop, requesting Shastri to stay in the car. Shastri sees a passing elephant on the road. He becomes fascinated and with some help, gets himself out of the car and starts following the elephant through the lanes of the city. When Ira comes back and finds her father gone, she and her husband, Madhav, begin searching for him and report him missing.

As Shastri keeps following Laxmi the elephant, her mahout, Anta, tries to get Shastri to go home. However, Shastri does not remember anything and reaches the mahout's house, where he meets the man's wife, Channamma. She takes care of Shastri along with her newborn. Ira informs her sister Devika of their father's disappearance, but the latter blames Ira and suggests an old-age home for their father. The police trace the elephant's whereabouts and find Shastri, but accuse the mahout of kidnapping the old man. Shastri refuses to go back to Ira, wanting to stay with Channamma. Finally, they manage to convince the senior scholar to return home.

Cast

Production

Actor Mohan Agashe was approached with the idea of a short film that deals with Alzheimer's disease. Though he liked the project, he wasn't satisfied with the script and suggested improving it. He invited Sumitra Bhave to meet with the filmmaker, and she ended up turning it into a feature-length production. After shooting was completed, one of the co-producers backed out of post-production. Agashe contributed from his pension to complete the remaining work. [1]

Release and reception

Though the film was completed in 2013, it did not find a distributor and was released through crowdfunding in 2016. [2] [3] It was originally released in Pune in 2014 and later re-released to qualify for the Maharashtra state film subsidy, which requires the film to be released in ten state districts. [4] It was also screened at the New York Film Festival (NYFF) and a special screening was organised at the Harvard University campus to raise awareness of problems suffered by the elderly due to lack of human interaction. A panel discussion was also held, with the participation of Mohan Agashe and professors Arthur Kleinman and Diana L. Eck. [5]

The film was praised for its depiction of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, as well as the performances of the lead actors. Namrata Joshi of The Hindu wrote that, "though the film is about loss of memory, it's structured and built around a series of recollections" and mentioned that the film builds awareness of Alzheimer's disease but "does not slip into sermonizing, it remains sensitive, not sentimental". [6] Mihir Bhanage of The Times of India wrote that the "splendid narration and direction, coupled with excellent performances, are a high point of this film". [7]

Awards

The film won several awards upon release.

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)ResultRef(s)
201311th Indian Film Festival StuttgartAudience Award for Best FilmAstuWon [8]
20132nd Delhi International Film FestivalBest Regional FilmAstuWon [9]
2013 61st National Film Awards Best Dialogue Sumitra Bhave Won [10]
201361st National Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Amruta Subhash Won [10]
2013Kolhapur International Film FestivalAudience Award for Best FilmAstuWon[ citation needed ]
2013Kolhapur International Film FestivalBest FilmAstuWon [11]
2013Kolhapur International Film FestivalBest DirectionSumitra Bhave and Sunil SukthankarWon [11]
2013Kolhapur International Film FestivalBest ScreenplaySumitra BhaveWon [11]
2014 Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards (MICTA)Best FilmAstuNominated [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest DirectionSumitra Bhave and Sunil SukthankarNominated [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest Actor Mohan Agashe Won [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest Actress Iravati Harshe Won [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsActress in Supporting RoleAmruta SubhashWon [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest Art DirectionSumitra Bhave and Santosh SankhadNominated [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest DialoguesSumitra BhaveNominated [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest ScreenplaySumitra BhaveNominated [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest StorySumitra BhaveNominated [12]
2014Marathi International Cinema and Theatre AwardsBest SoundPramod ThomasNominated [12]
201414th New York Indian Film Festival Best FilmAstuNominated [13]
201414th New York Indian Film FestivalBest ActorMohan AgasheNominated [13]
201414th New York Indian Film FestivalBest ActressIravati HarsheNominated [13]
2015 1st Filmfare Marathi Awards Critics' Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male)Mohan AgasheWon [14]
20151st Filmfare Marathi AwardsBest Actor in a Leading Role (Male)Mohan AgasheNominated [14]
20151st Filmfare Marathi AwardsBest Actor in a Leading Role (Female)Iravati HarsheNominated [14]
20151st Filmfare Marathi AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)Amruta SubhashWon [14]
20151st Filmfare Marathi AwardsBest Background ScoreSaket KanitkarNominated [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohan Agashe</span> Indian psychiatrist and actor

Mohan Agashe is an Indian psychiatrist and actor. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 in theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jabbar Patel</span> Indian film director and former paediatrician

Dr. Jabbar Patel is a former paediatrician and a Marathi-language theatre and film director of India. His production of Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre. Patel received Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award at 7th Filmfare Awards Marathi.

<i>Jait Re Jait</i> 1977 Indian film

Jait Re Jait is 1977 Indian Marathi-language musical film directed by Dr. Jabbar Patel and produced by Usha Mangeshkar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar, under the banner of Mahalakshmi Chitra. The film stars Mohan Agashe and Smita Patil in the lead roles. The film won President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Marathi at the National Film Awards.

<i>Valu</i> (film) 2008 Indian film

Valu is a 2008 Indian comedy Marathi film directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni. The film featured in various international film festivals as The Wild Bull. It also became the first Marathi film to be selected in Rotterdam International Film Festival 2008, the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce</span> College of commerce in Pune, India

Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce is a college in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The college was established in 1943 by the Deccan Education Society. It is affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonalee Kulkarni</span> Indian actress (born 1988)

Sonalee Benodekar is an Indian actress who mainly acts in Marathi and Hindi-language films. She is the recipient of several awards including two Filmfare Awards Marathi. She is noted for her lavani dance song, "Apsara Aali" in the Marathi film Natarang,.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajeenkya Patil</span> Indian educationist

Ajeenkya D Y Patil is an Indian educationist and economist. He is the son of D. Y. Patil. He is Chairman of the D Y Patil Group, Chancellor of Ajeenkya D Y Patil University and Pro-chancellor of the Dr. D. Y. Patil University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rahul Ranade</span> Musical artist

Rahul Ranade is a music composer. His work in music spans from composing music for films, television, drama to events, concerts, composing music for ballets, advertisements, and also albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amruta Subhash</span> Indian actress

Amruta Subhash is an Indian actress who works in Marathi and Hindi films, television, and theatre. She is a graduate of the National School of Drama, New Delhi. She has received several awards, including a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards, and a Filmfare OTT Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sai Tamhankar</span> Indian actress

Sai Tamhankar is an Indian actress known for her work in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam language films and television. She is the recipient several awards including a Filmfare Award and three Filmfare Marathi Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iravati Harshe</span> Indian television actress

Iravati Harshe is an Indian actress and dubbing artist. She has worked in many television serials and is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer.

<i>Devrai</i> 2004 film by Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar

Devrai is a 2004 Indian Marathi film directed by filmmaker duo Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar and produced by the Schizophrenia Awareness Association and K. S. Wani Memorial Trust. The film stars Atul Kulkarni, Sonali Kulkarni, Devika Daftardar, Tushar Dalvi, and Mohan Agashe and was released on 11 March 2004. The film's music is by Shrirang Umarani. It depicts a story of a man who has schizophrenia and is struggling to come to terms with his illness and the frustration of his helpless sister.

<i>Dr. Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero</i> 2014 Indian film

Dr. Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero is a Marathi film starring Nana Patekar, Sonali Kulkarni and Mohan Agashe in lead roles. It is a biopic on the lives of Dr. Prakash Baba Amte, the son of the social worker Baba Amte, and his wife Mandakini Amte. Dr. Prakash Amte is a doctor and social worker who devotes his life to the development and uplifting of the tribal people in the forests of eastern Maharashtra state.

<i>Deool Band</i> 2015 Indian Marathi-language drama film

Deool Band is a 2015 Indian Marathi-language drama film directed by Pravin Tarde and Pranit Kulkarni in their directorial debut. It released on 31 July 2015. It stars Gashmeer Mahajani and Girija Joshi in the lead roles, with Mohan Joshi portraying Swami Samarth–considered to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. It is the story of a scientist who does not believe in god.

<i>Katyar Kaljat Ghusali</i> (film) 2015 Marathi film directed by Subodh Bhave

Katyar Kaljat Ghusali is a 2015 Indian Marathi-language epic musical drama film based on a play by the same name. Directed by Subodh Bhave, the film stars Sachin Pilgaonkar, Shankar Mahadevan, and Subodh Bhave in lead roles. The film marks the directorial debut for Bhave, and the theatrical acting debut for Shankar Mahadevan. The original play, written by Purushottam Darvhekar, premiered in 1967 in Mumbai, where Hindustani classical vocalist Vasantrao Deshpande played one of the protagonists. In 2010, the play was relaunched with protagonists essayed by Rahul Deshpande, grandson of Vasantrao Deshpande and singer Mahesh Kale. The film's music is composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, and retained some of the songs from the original play composed by Jitendra Abhisheki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar</span> Indian filmmaker duo

Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar were an Indian filmmaker duo working predominantly in Marathi cinema and Marathi theatre. Bhave and Sukthankar had made seventeen feature films, more than fifty short films, and four TV serials; all of which had been written by Bhave. Sunil Sukthankar, a Film and Television Institute of India graduate (1989) is also an actor and a lyricist. He has written more than 90 songs for their own films as well as various other Marathi and Hindi films. The duo had won various national and international accolades for the films Doghi (1995), Dahavi Fa (2002), Vastupurush (2002), Devrai (2004), Astu (2016) and Kaasav (2017). At the 64th National Film Awards, their feature film Kaasav won the prestigious President Golden Lotus National Award.

<i>Kaasav</i> 2016 Indian film

Kaasav is a 2016 Indian Marathi-language film released on 6 October 2017. It was directed by filmmaker duo Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar and produced by Mohan Agashe in association with Bhave–Sukthankar's production company "Vichitra Nirmiti". The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film at the 64th National Film Awards. It became the fifth Marathi film to win in this category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohit Takalkar</span> Indian theatre director, filmmaker, film editor, screenwriter

Mohit Ratnakar Takalkar is an Indian theatre director, filmmaker and film editor from Pune, Maharashtra. He co-founded the theatre company, Aasakta Kalamanch in 2003.

<i>Dhappa</i> 2019 Indian film

Dhappa is a 2019 Indian Marathi-language drama film directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari in his directorial debut. The film features several debutante child actors and was inspired by a true incident. The film was shown at various film festivals including Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival.

<i>Take Care Good Night</i> 2018 Indian film

Take Care Good Night is an Indian Marathi language film directed by Girish Joshi. The film stars Sachin Khedekar, Iravati Harshe, Adinath Kothare, Parna Pethe and Mahesh Manjrekar. Music by Narendra Bhide. The film was released on 31 August 2018.

References

  1. ↑ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (29 September 2015). "'Astu', a state of acceptance". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Astu: So Be It: A hard-hitting Film on Value of Relationships needs your support for theatrical release! By: Sheelaa Rao". Catapooolt. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Raikwar, Reshma (17 July 2016). "चित्ररंग: कोहमपर्यंत नेणारा प्रवास". Loksatta (in Marathi). Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. ↑ Shedde, Meenakshi (17 July 2016). "Astu: So Be It". Mid-Day. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  5. ↑ Meenakshi Rohatgil (6 June 2015). "Harvard watches Marathi film on Alzheimer's". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Joshi, Namrata (15 July 2016). "Astu: Inside a beautiful mind". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Bhanage, Mihir (18 July 2016). "Astu Movie Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Gewinner des 11. Indischen Filmfestivals Stuttgart" [Winner of the 11th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart] (in German). Indian Film Festival Stuttgart. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "12th Pune International Film Festival" (PDF). Pune International Film Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  10. 1 2 "61st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "Gauurikaa films@ASTUsobeit: ASTU SO BE IT Sweeps awards". Twitter. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Nominations for MICTA films, theatre awards". Rangmarathi. 7 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 "New York Indian Film Festival 2014". New York Indian Film Festival. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nominations for Ajeenkya DY Patil Filmfare Awards (Marathi)". Filmfare. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.