Pistulya

Last updated

Pistulya
Pistulya Marathi short film poster.jpg
Official release poster
Directed by Nagraj Manjule
Written byNagraj Manjule (Story, Screenplay)
Produced byNagraj Manjule
Starring
CinematographyGargee Kulkarni
Kutub Inamdar
Edited byKutub Inamdar
Music bySantosh Khatmode
Production
companies
Release date
  • 2009 (2009)
Running time
18 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMarathi
Budget₹1.5 lakh [1]

Pistulya is an Indian Marathi-language short film written and directed by Nagraj Manjule and jointly produced by Aatpat Production and New Arts DCS. [2] The film won National Film Award for Best First Non-Feature Film of a Director and Best Child Artist Award in Non-feature Film category at the 58th National Film Awards. [3] [4] The film features Suraj Pawar in the title role, Vaishali Kendale, and Nagraj Manjule in pivotal roles. The film focuses on the story of a village boy, struggle to educate himself against the odds. [1]

Contents

Nagraj Manjule created the film as part of his mass communication course at Pune University, aiming to capture the ethos of a marginalized community living as tramps and address social stigma while expressing a desire for reform. The film was shot over two days in Ahmednagar, with a production cost of ₹1.5 lakh funded by Manjule's friends and family.

The film was screened at Vaanam Art Festival on 8 April 2023. [5]

Plot

Pistulya, an 8-year-old boy from the backward Waddar community, burdened by his father's demise and his mother's solitary struggle to provide, finds himself ensnared in the allure of quick cash, falling into the clutches of local thugs. However, amidst his illicit endeavors in the village, a chance encounter with a school assembly scene stirs something profound within him. Observing peers of his age, clad in school uniform, reciting prayers, he glimpses a world beyond his current existence. Through the wire-meshed compound, a vision of a brighter future dawns on Pistulya. Remarkably, it's the memory of his younger sister, Lali, that kindles his aspiration for education, sparking a newfound determination to break free from the cycle of vice and pave a path towards a better life for both of them.

Cast

Production

Development

Manjule created the film as part of his mass communication course at Pune University. He mentions the challenge of capturing the ethos of a community living the life of tramps and dealing with social stigma, while also expressing a desire for reform. Nagraj credits his own life experiences for helping him achieve this effect within a 15-minute timeframe. [6]

Filming and casting

The film was shot over a two-day period in Ahmednagar, with a production cost of ₹1.5 lakh, funded by Manjule's friends and family, using a Sony NX 100 camera. [2] [7] The cast is drawn from Nagraj's own group of friends. He stated "It was perhaps easy for me to identify with the characters shown in the film, because I myself come from the Waddar community (those who hammer and break stone slabs) to which the protagonist, Pistulya, belongs." [8] Suraj Pawar was offered the role when the director visited his school in Karmala. [1] Nagraj intends to expand this 15-minute project into a full-length feature film to deliver a compelling social message that he believes will resonate with numerous marginalized and stigmatized communities across the country. [8]

Critical response

Aishwarya Raj of The Mooknayak wrote "Instead of a happy ending or a sad ending, the film ends with hope, a bitter truth and a question." [9] A reviewer from The Indian Wire is highlighting the impactful storytelling of the short film. He emphasize how the film sheds light on the struggles and challenges faced by the protagonist, Pistulya, and his widowed mother. He also commend the unexpected yet effective ending of the film. [10]

Accolades

Awards

National Film awards [11]

Other

  • Maharashtra Times – Best Short Film Award
  • Aarohi Film festival Mumbai 2009 – Best Short Film and Best Actor Award
  • Nashik International Film Festival 2009 – Best Actor and Golden Camera Award
  • Hyderabad Film festival 2010 – Best Short Film Award
  • 20th IDPA Film festival Mumbai 2009 – Certificate of Merit
  • Pratibimb Short Film Festival, Ahmednagar 2009 – Second Best Short Film Award

Nominations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajit Kapur</span> Indian actor (b. 1963)

Rajit Kapur is an Indian film and theatre actor and director. He is known for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the 1996 film, The Making of the Mahatma for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor. Other notable roles are as the protagonist Unni in the Malayalam film Agnisakshi, and the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi in the eponymous television series, directed by Basu Chatterjee and broadcast on Doordarshan. His debut film was Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (1992), directed by Shyam Benegal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marathi cinema</span>

Marathi Cinema, also known as Marathi film industry, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Marathi language widely spoken in the state of Maharashtra. It is based in Mumbai. It is the oldest film industry of India and one of the leaders in filmmaking in the Indian film industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadashiv Amrapurkar</span> Indian actor (1950–2014)

Sadashiv Dattaray Amrapurkar was an Indian actor, best known for his performances in Marathi and Hindi films from 1983 to 2013. He acted in more than 300 movies in Hindi, Marathi, and other regional languages. Amrapurkar played a negative role against Dharmendra in Anil Sharma's first successful movie Hukumat in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajay-Atul</span> Indian play-back singers and composers

Ajay-Atul is an Indian music composer duo comprising brothers Ajay Ashok Gogavale and Atul Ashok Gogavale. known for their works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Marathi and Hindi films. They are recipient of a National Film Award, four Filmfare Awards Marathi, three Maharashtra State Film Awards, twelve Mirchi Music Awards, and two Zee Cine Awards. They made their debut in the 2015 Forbes India Celebrity 100 List securing a position of 82 and were placed 22nd in 2019. They have composed music for many hit Marathi & Hindi films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paresh Mokashi</span> Indian film director (born 1969)

Paresh Mokashi is an Indian filmmaker, producer, actor and Theatre director-producer; working predominantly in Marathi cinema and Marathi theatre. He started working as a backstage worker for theatre and did few minor roles for plays as well as films. Mokashi made his directorial debut for theatre with the Marathi play, Sangeet Debuchya Mulee in 1999. He continued to work for theatre and made his directorial debut for cinema with the 2009 Marathi feature film, Harishchandrachi Factory. The film depicts the making of India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), made by Dadasaheb Phalke. The film was acclaimed critically and won several awards. It was also selected as India's official entry to 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjali Patil</span> Indian actress

Anjali Patil is an Indian actress who works in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Tamil film productions. She has received several awards including a National Film Award and a Filmfare Marathi Award. She received the IFFI Best Actor Award (Female) Silver Peacock Award at the 43rd International Film Festival of India her role in the Sri Lankan film With You, Without You

<i>Fandry</i> 2013 Marathi film

Fandry is a 2013 Indian Marathi-language film, written and directed by Nagraj Manjule in his directorial debut. It stars Somnath Awghade, Suraj Pawar, and Rajeshwari Kharat. The story focuses on a young boy's love amidst caste-based discrimination. The film, set in Akolner, a village near Ahmednagar, revolves around the issue of discrimination in India's caste system and narrates the story of a teenager from a Dalit family who lives at the village fringe, and falls in love with an upper-caste girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagraj Manjule</span> Indian film director (born 1978)

Nagraj Popatrao Manjule is an Indian film director, actor, producer, scriptwriter, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He works in Marathi cinema, and is best known for Sairat and Pistulya—the latter for which he received National Film Award in the National Film Award for Best First Non-Feature Film of a Director. He made his Hindi Cinema debut in 2022, with a film called Jhund, starring Amitabh Bachchan.

<i>Sairat</i> 2016 Marathi romantic drama film

Sairat (transl. Wild) is a 2016 Indian Marathi-language social romantic tragedy film directed and co-produced by Nagraj Manjule under his banner Aatpat Production, along with Nittin Keni and Nikhil Sane under Essel Vision Productions and Zee Studios. Starring Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar in their debuts, it tells the story of two young college students from different castes who fall in love, sparking conflict between their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zee Studios</span> Indian film production and distribution company

Zee Studios is an Indian film production and distribution company, that specializes in film, streaming, and television, content development and production. It also specializes in film marketing and distribution. It is based in Mumbai, India, and it was established in 2012 as the content engine for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited.

<i>The Silence</i> (2015 film) 2015 Indian film

The Silence is a 2015 Indian Marathi drama film directed by Gajendra Ahire. The film stars the Sairat director Nagraj Manjule, Raghubir Yadav, Mugdha Chaphekar and Anjali Patil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amey Wagh</span> Indian actor (born 1988)

Amey Wagh is an Indian Marathi actor known for films such as Popat, Faster Fene, Muramba, Girlfriend. He was recently seen portraying Kushal in season 2 of Sacred Games and Balvir Subeir in Asur- Welcome to Your Dark Side and Asur 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akash Thosar</span> Indian actor

Akash Thosar is an Indian actor who appears in Marathi cinema and Bollywood. He is best known for his role as Parshya in the 2016 Marathi film Sairat for which he won a Filmfare Award Marathi Best Male Debut. He was ranked eighth in The Times of India's Top 20 Most Desirable Men of Maharashtra in 2019.

<i>Ghar Banduk Biryani</i> 2023 Indian film

Ghar Banduk Biryani, abbreviated as GBB, is a 2023 Indian Marathi-language action comedy film directed by Hemant Jangal Awtade in his directorial debut, starring Akash Thosar, Sayaji Shinde, Nagraj Manjule, and Sayli Patil in the lead roles. It was jointly produced by Zee Studios and Aatpat Production. The film centres on Pallam, the leader of an who insurgency in the fictional town of Kolagad, where Raju meets Lakshmi. Lakshmi's father insists Raju has a house, but he can't comply. Meanwhile, Inspector Raya Patil's duty in Pune causes issues, leading to his transfer to Kolagad.

<i>Pavsacha Nibandh</i> 2020 Indian film

Pavsacha Nibandh is an Indian Marathi-language short film directed by Nagraj Manjule. It is produced by Balkrishna Manjule, Sheshraj Manjule, and Gargee Kulkarni. The film won the Best Director in Non-Feature Film and Best Audiography in Non-feature Film categories at the 65th National Film Awards in 2018. It depicts the challenges faced by the child's mother as she endeavors to bring her intoxicated husband back home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somnath Awghade</span> Indian actor

Somnath Awghade is an Indian actor known for his role in the 2013 Marathi film Fandry, for which he earned the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. He also appeared in Free Hit Danka (2021), Jhund (2022) and Ghar Banduk Biryani (2023).

Suraj Pawar is an Indian actor who works in Marathi cinema, debuted in Nagraj Manjule's 2009 Marathi-language short film Pistulya, for which he received the National Film Award for Best Child Actor in the Non-feature film category. Pawar is predominantly known for his collaborations with Manjule, appearing in several of his films.

<i>Sairat</i> (soundtrack) 2016 soundtrack album by Ajay–Atul

Sairat is the soundtrack album composed and written by Ajay–Atul, to the 2016 Marathi film of the same name, directed by Nagraj Manjule that stars Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar in lead roles. The film was produced by Nittin Keni, Nikhil Sane and Nagraj Manjule under the productions Zee Studios, Essel Vision Productions and Aatpat Productions. The four-song soundtrack was released under the Zee Music Company label on 1 April 2016, to critical acclaim and fetched numerous accolades. Sairat notably the first Indian film to record the musical score at the Sony Scoring Stage in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chhaya Kadam</span> Indian actress

Chhaya Kadam is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Marathi and Hindi films. She has appeared in Nagraj Manjule films, Fandry (2013), Sairat (2016), and Jhund (2022), as well as in other Marathi films including Redu (2018) and Nude (2018). The last of these earned her the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. Kadam gained wider recognition in 2024 for her roles in the comedy-dramas Laapataa Ladies and Madgaon Express and the independent drama All We Imagine as Light.

Kutub Inamdar is an Indian film editor and cinematographer mostly edited Marathi films. He is best known for Sairat (2016), Jhund (2022), Ghar Banduk Biryani (2023). He was nominated for Best Editing at the 3rd Filmfare Awards Marathi for Sairat.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "'My film reflects my own struggle for education'". The Times of India . TNN. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Marathi short film series explores mental health issues among youth, encourages discussions". The Indian Express . 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "'Pistulya' wins debut short film award at 58th National film awards". Daily News and Analysis . Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sairat fame actor Suraj Pawar to be probed in cheating case filed in Ahmednagar - details inside". Zoom TV . Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "'Pistulya'- A short film directed by Nagraj Manjule will be screened on PK. Rosy Film festival on 8 th April!". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  6. ↑ "'Pistulya' depicts deprivation, undying urge for better life". Deccan Herald . Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Mahindrakar, Shreya (4 April 2023). "'I never cast myself, it just happens organically'". Pune Mirror . Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Pistulya's Deprivation Similar To Own Experience: Filmmaker". NDTV . Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Raj, Aishwarya (23 May 2022). "पिस्तुल्या फिल्म रिव्यू: 8 वर्षीय बच्चे की पढ़ने-लिखने की ललक और सपनों के बीच उसकी सामाजिक आर्थिक पहचान के कारण आने वाली रुकावटों की एक कहानी". The Mooknayak (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "'Pistulya,' a short film that takes you deep into Love and Struggles for Education". The Indian Wire. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "'Characters are more important than actors'". The Hindu . 3 May 2014. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "In Tough Times - Indian Express". The Indian Express . Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
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.