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Tapaal is National & International Award winning Marathi film set in a small village in the year 1977. It dwells with sympathy, concern and understanding on the bond between a little boy and a childless couple, and the social discrimination that they face.

Even before its release, Laxman Utekar’s directorial debut is creating the right buzz. It has been critically acclaimed and has even won various accolades & awards at different film festivals for its sterling performances.Tapaal had its World Premiere at 18th Busan International Film Festival 2013, South Korea. It was selected in Indian Panorama Section at 44th Iffi (International Film festival 2013) and 9 other International Film Festivals as well. It was also screened at 3rd Eye Asian Film Festival and Pune Film Festival. That’s not all. Veena Jamkar bagged the best actress award at South Africa Film Festival. While Rohit Utekar won Best Child Actor Award, Prakash Holkar got the...

National Award winning director and script writer Mangesh Hadawale, who is known for films like Tingya and Dekh Indian Circus, now, dons the hat of creative producer with Marathi movie Tapaal, directed by cinematographer turned director Laxman Utekar.

Ask Laxman how did he associate with Mangesh and he says, "I had long back thought about making a Marathi film. But when I was shooting as a cinematographer for Mangesh Hadawale's Dekh Indian Circus, I discussed about it with Mangesh and asked him to write a nice story for me. He wrote a beautiful story and that is how Tapaal started."

Adds Mangesh, "I have known Laxman for a long time now. There were many common factors between us like - we haven't taken professional training in filmmaking, we both are hardworking etc. over which we bonded. And he discussed the idea of directing a Marathi film and asked me to write a story.

After being the cinematographer for Bollywood biggies like Blue, English Vinglish, Boss, Lekar Hum Deewana Dil and upcoming film Tevar – Laxman Utekar has added another feather to his cap as he turns director for Marathi film, Tapaal.

Talking about his journey of becoming a director, he says, “I used to get a lot of offers to shoot Marathi films, but I didn’t want to shoot them. I always felt that if I shoot a Marathi film, it will also be directed by me. I didn’t want to shoot for somebody else. Because I was already shooting for people in Hindi films.”

He further adds, “After completing Mangesh Hadawale’s Dekh Indian Circus, I narrated a thought to him about the culture and people of my own village. I asked him whether he could weave a story for me and he did that beautifully. The film is the result of our experiences.

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival, to be held between September 18th and 21st, will open with Geethu Mohandas’ Liar’s Dice. The film has Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Geetanjali Thapa in lead roles and was screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

Amit Kumar’s Monsoon Shootout will be the centerpiece film of the festival. Agneya Singh’s M Cream will be screened as the Friday night feature. Rajat Kapoor’s Ankhon Dekhi will close the Festival on Sunday evening.

Here is the complete lineup of the festival:

A Boy Called Boris (Director: Ashok Vish): World Premiere; Short Film; United States; Max Kolby, Brian Gildea, Jose Amor

Algorithms (Director: Ian McDonald): U.S. Premiere; Documentary; India

Ankhon Dekhi (Director: Rajat Kapoor): Chicago Premiere; Feature; India; Sanjay Mishra, Rajat Kapoor, Seema Pahwa

Are You Listening! – Shunte Ki Pao! (Director: Kamar Ahmad Simon): U.S. Premiere...

Mitraa, directed by Ravi Jadhav, won the Best Indian Narrative Short Film award at the 5th Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.

The film based on a play by Vijay Tendulkar, also got its lead actor Veena Jamkar, a special mention from the Jury. The award included a trophy and a cash award of Rs 20,000 sponsored by Anupam Kher’s acting academy Actor Prepares.

Canadian film Tru Love won the top two awards – Best Narrative Feature Film and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Kate Trotter at the festival.

The Riyad Wadia award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker went to Sharon Flynn for her film I’dentity. The award includes a trophy and a cash award of Rs 15,000 sponsored by Wadia Movietone. The winner also gets HD shooting kit from Accord Equips for two days.

The other awards of the night were won by Bridegroom (Best Documentary Feature), Families...

City of Gold

The Mumbai of today boasts of several glitzy malls, multiplexes, bowling alleys and lounge bars with addresses that refer to these being earlier locations of cloth mills (for example, PVR Phoniex Mills, the address of one of the upscale multiplexes). Those who know the history of these mills would know how the great strike of the early 1980s by mill workers, protesting gradual closure of the ‘loss-making’ mills by their owners, had driven the death knell for not only these industrial structures but also the thousands who earned their livelihoods by working in them. Now, almost three decades later, that story of mill workers is almost forgotten, except for maybe those who are involved with a few court cases here and there still lingering on. In a economically-upward India where the cities are earning their brownie points through humongous, modern day structures that comprise residential properties, corporate offices and businesses mentioned above,...