Paresh Mokashi

Paresh Mokashi (born 6 February 1969) 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.

Paresh Mokashi
Paresh Mokashi in 2009
Born (1969-02-06) 6 February 1969
Pune, Maharashtra, India
OccupationTheatre director, Film director, Theatrical producer, Film producer, Screenwriter, Actor
Years active1988–present
Spouse(s)Madhugandha Kulkarni

Personal life

Paresh Mokashi was born to a Maharashtrian family in Pune and was brought up in Lonavla.[1] He is a grandson of a noted Marathi writer D. B. Mokashi.[2][3] Mokashi finished his schooling in Lonavla and acquired Bachelor of Arts degree from a Pune-based college.[4] He has also formed his production company, "Mayasabha Productions", which has produced some of his own work including his 2005 Marathi play, Samudra and 2009 Marathi film, Harishchandrachi Factory. He currently lives in Mumbai and is married to theatre actor-writer Madhugandha Kulkarni, who had also done a minor role in Mokashi's debut film, Harishchandrachi Factory.[5] Mokashi's struggle to make the film is included as one of the twenty inspiring stories in the book "Connect the Dots" by Rashmi Bansal, under the title "Truth Shall Prevail" in "Zubaan" section of the book.[6][7]

Career

Theatre
"I started doing rounds of Mumbai showbiz industry but soon realized that I cant do this actor's struggle.[8] I left acting long back because to me it was a much more difficult process. I wasn't at ease with the whole idea of acting. I realised that I was happier with behind the camera work.[9]"

—Paresh Mokashi on leaving acting as a career.

Mokashi started as a backstage worker for a theatre group in Pune.[4] He has been associated with Marathi theatre since 1988 and worked as an actor in Pune based organisations like Theatre Academy and Maharashtra Cultural Center. He also participated in the plays made for children by a Berlin based theatre group, Grips-Theater.[8][10] After acting in couple of plays, Mokashi got associated with Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai. While working as an organiser for their theatre festivals, Mokashi directed his first play Sangeet Debuchya Mulee (Debu's Daughters: The Musical) in Marathi for 1999 Prithvi Theatre festival. The play was also written by Mokashi himself. He directed few more plays including Mukam Post Bombilwadi (Bombilwadi: The Village), Sangeet Lagnakallol (The Roaring Marriage: The Musical) and Samudra (The Ocean).[11]

All his plays got critical acclaim and won several awards on release.[2][3] Sangeet Debuchya Mulee made satirical comments on the current communal harmony in India, through the daughters of a saintly social reformer in Maharashtra, Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar, popularly known as Gadge Maharaj. The play's narrative format used Kirtans, call-and-response chanting or responsory, which were popularised by the 13th-century Hindu saint, Dnyaneshwar and another 16th-century Varkari saint, Tukaram.[2] His 2001 comedy play, Mukam Post Bombilwadi, showcased tumultuous events upon Adolf Hitler's accidental landing in a small village in coastal Maharashtra. The 2004 musical play, Sangeet Lagnakallol, was set in early 1900s referencing the characters and situations from Shripad Krushna Kolhatkar's book, Sudaamyaache Pohe (1910) and Ram Ganesh Gadkari's book, Sampoorna Baalakraam (1925). His other plays like Mangalawarache Mundake (2001) discussed environmental concerns and Samudra (2005), starring Atul Kulkarni, explored a mystery based upon ancient Vedic mythological history.[12]

Feature films

Mokashi did a few small-time roles for Hindi TV serials and feature films, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) but soon he turned to writing and directing. Mokashi came across a biography of Dadasaheb Phalke, also known as the father of Indian cinema, written by Bapu Watve. With an idea of making film on Phalke, Mokashi started his research with the help of National Film Archive of India, Pune and finished the script by March 2005.[4] As Mokashi did not undergo any formal training for film-making and did not assist any other film directors earlier,[13] he found it difficult to find producers for the film and it took three years to raise finances for the film.[14] Declining the suggestions of making the film in Hindi, casting big stars, adding at least one title track, Mokashi decided to produce the film by himself through his production company, "Mayasabha Productions".[8] Made with the budget of ₹40 million (US$560,000), Mokashi had to mortgage his house to complete the film.[4]

Mokashi made directorial debut with his much acclaimed feature film, Harishchandrachi Factory. The film shoot was completed in December 2005 and post production work was finished in eight months in 2008.[4] In an interview with Rediff.com, Mokashi told that the film "had a technical release in the remote places of Maharashtra so [it] could participate in various festivals across the country."[1] The film made in Marathi language depicts the struggle of Dadasaheb Phalke in making of India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913).[15][16] Unlike typical biopic films, Mokashi used light humoured adventure style for the film.[17] The film gathered wide critical acclaim and Mokashi was praised for the narrative storyline of the film.[18] The film also participated in several national and international film festivals.

The film was selected as India's official entry to 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category along with 62nd British Academy Film Awards and 66th Golden Globe Awards but was not listed among the final five nominations.[19][20][21] Mokashi's next feature film Elizabeth Ekadashi was released on 14 November 2014. The film received critical acclaim and commercial success and was selected as the opening film of 'Indian Panorama' at The International Film Festival of India (IFFI).[22][23] The film won National Film Award for Best Children's Film at the 62nd National Film Awards in 2015.[a 1]

Other work

After Mokashi's film competed for Academy Awards, in July 2010, he launched Shailaja Dekhmukh's Marathi book "...And The Oscar Goes To..." about Academy award-winning films and its history.[24] In January 2011, he inaugurated 5th National Book Exhibition at Nagpur and mentioned that if he hadn't read Dadasaheb Phalke's biography in 2005, he would not have made the film.[25] In March 2011, UTV World Movies launched a short film contest, "Premier: The Short Film Festival", for amateur and professional film makers. Mokashi was on the jury panel along with writer-director Sooni Taraporevala and director Raj Kumar Gupta. The top three winners were given a chance to work with Mokashi.[26] In November 2011, Mokashi was made part of Disney and PVR Cinemas' joint initiative "My City My Parks", which focused on encouraging children about urban greenery.[27] Mokashi inaugurated the event along with Bollywood actor Abhay Deol and director Amole Gupte. The child participants of the event were asked to create a project on the topic of environmental conservation, in the form of a film, photo-journal, murals or a theatre performance. Gupte and Mokashi also worked as mentors for the shortlisted participants.[27]

Seminars and discussions

Mokashi has attended several seminars and discussions about Indian cinema. In August 2010, Film and Television Institute of India in collaboration with Film Writers Association, India organised a two-day seminar on film scripts, "The Uniqueness of the Indian Script", at Pune.[28] Mokashi was part of seminar session, "The Road Ahead: Globalism, the Digital Revolution and Other Attractions", with actor Kamal Haasan as its chairperson. The session also included other filmmakers like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Rohan Sippy and Vikramaditya Motwane.[29] In May 2011, Mokashi was seen explaining and exploring the myths about Indian history in an event organised by actor Nandu Madhav, who had portrayed Dadasaheb Phalke in Mokashi's film.[30] At 84th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in December 2011, he opened a discussion about Marathi cinema with fellow participants like actor Mohan Agashe, actress Mrinal Kulkarni, Smita Talwalkar and director Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni.[31] He mentioned that Marathi film industry should experiment with new subjects, however he also said that these experimentations may not guarantee favourable audience responses.[32] In May 2012, Mokashi participated in the centenary of Indian cinema celebration organised by P. L. Deshpande Arts Academy in Mumbai. He was accompanied by another Marathi film director, Chandrakant Kulkarni, and was involved in two discussions, "Dadasaheb Phalke's cinematic journey" and "Hundred Years of Indian Cinema".[33][34]

Creative work
Year Title Credited as Notes
Actor Director Writer Producer
1985 Kokaru Yes One-act play by Madhavi Purandare
1985 Padgham Yes Play; Directed by Jabbar Patel, written by Arun Sadhu[35][36]
1986 Nako Re Baba Yes Play by Grips-Theater[37]
1986 Pahila Paan Yes Play by Grips-Theater[37]
1999 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Yes
1999 Gubbare Yes Hindi TV Serial
 • Episode 7: Dhan-Te-Nan (An East-side Story)
 • Episode 21: Tie Breaker
1999 Sangeet Debuchya Mulee YesYes Play
2001 Mukam Post Bombilwadi YesYes Play
2001 Mangalawarache Mundake YesYes Play[38]
2004 Sangeet Lagnakallol YesYes Play
2005 Samudra YesYesYes Play
2009 Harishchandrachi Factory YesYesYes Feature film
2014 Elizabeth Ekadashi YesYesYes Feature film
2017 Chi Va Chi Sau Ka YesYesYes Feature film
TBA Bhaykatha Heer Ranjha Ki[39] Yes Feature film

Awards
Plays
  • 2004 – Alpha Gaurav Awards: Best Direction – Sangeet Lagnakallol[a 2][a 3]
Feature films
Other awards
  • 2009 – Maharashtra Ratna: Jewel of Maharashtra[a 21]
  • 2010 – Majha Sanman Puraskar: Excellence in art[a 22][a 23]
  • 2010 – Acharya Atre Foundation, Pune: Excellence in cinema[a 24]
  • 2011 – P. B. Bhave Memorial Trust: Excellence in cinema[a 25]
  • 2012 – The Maharashtra Chapter of the Federation of Film Society of India: Contribution to the Marathi cinema.[a 26]
gollark: * conspiracy
gollark: Can you make an *infinitely* meta conspirach?
gollark: Conspiracy theory: ballsystemlord is being paid by the government to make conspiracy theories seem less interesting.
gollark: Ah yes, put programmers in charge of the country.
gollark: Do you have any more interesting hidden truths? Ones with day-to-day relevance or something? Weirder ones?

References
  1. "Preparing Harishchandra for the Oscars!". rediff.com. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  2. "परेश मोकाशी" [Paresh Mokashi]. Loksatta (in Marathi). The Indian Express. 22 September 2009. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  3. "हे "माझे" फाळके!" [Here is my 'Phalke'!]. Loksatta (in Marathi). The Indian Express. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. Naik, Divya. "Everybody Liked My Script Initially But Nobody Was Ready to Finance it: Paresh Mokashi". DearCinema.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  5. Paul, Debjani (2 July 2012). "Knot to be". The Indian Express. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  6. "C.nnect the d.ts". Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  7. Bansal, Rashmi (2010). "Zubaan: Truth Shall Prevail". Connect The Dots. Eklavya Education Foundation. p. 305. ISBN 8190453025.
  8. Sekhri, Arjun (16 November 2009). "Paresh Mokashi interview @ indianentertainment.info". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  9. Jha, Srishti (30 October 2009). "Directing Harishcandrachi Factory". Hindustan Times. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. "Paresh Mokashi- Indian under Spotlight". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  11. Banerjee, Debesh (31 October 2009). "Ode to A Father". The Indian Express. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  12. "Samudra @ atulkulkarni.com". Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  13. "Paresh Mokashi visits Digital Academy: The Film School". dafilmschool.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  14. Vasant, Khushita (13 August 2010). "Screening: The Making of India's First Movie". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  15. "'Harishchandrachi Factory' India's entry for Oscars". Press Trust of India. The Times of India. 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  16. Harishchandrachi Factory is high on Oscar. NDTV. 21 October 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013.
  17. Ganguly, Prithwish (11 May 2010). "Rapid fire with Paresh Mokashi". Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  18. Bhaskaran, Gautaman (29 December 2009). "A better Indian film for the Oscars, at last!". Hindustan Times. Chennai. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  19. "UTV to release Harishchandrachi Factory". Indo-Asian News Service. New Delhi. Hindustan Times. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  20. Subhash K .Jha (18 December 2009). "Mokashi lives American dream". Mumbai Mirror. Mumbai. The Times of India. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  21. "BAFTA Screenings Archive". Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  22. Verma, Priyanka (13 November 2014). "'Elizabeth Ekadashi' posters bring minimalism to Marathi cinema". Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  23. Pawar, Yogesh (16 November 2014). "Elizabeth Ekadashi works its magic with the box office and critics..." Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  24. "विश्वकोश ऑस्करचा" [Oscar encyclopedia]. Loksatta. Mumbai. 18 July 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  25. "राष्ट्रीय पुस्तक प्रदर्शनाचे उद्घाटन" [National Book Exhibition inaugurated]. Loksatta. Mumbai. 2 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  26. "Filmmakers push for short films". The Indian Express. Mumbai. Press Trust of India. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  27. "Disney and PVR Nest Launch 'My City My Parks' initiative" (Press release). The Telegraph. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  28. Debarati Palit (31 August 2010). "Chorus at FTII seminar: Aao ab laut chale". Mid Day. Pune. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  29. "A Seminar on 'The Uniqueness of the Indian Film Script'". Film and Television Institute of India. Pune. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  30. "नवे प्रश्न, नवे पेच, नवा विश्वास!" [New Questions, New Problems, New Confidence!]. Loksatta. Thane. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  31. "सहित्य संमेलनात आज..." Loksatta. Thane. 25 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  32. "महाचर्चा: मराठी चित्रपटांची संख्या वाढली, पण दर्जाचे काय?" [Discussion: Marathi cinema and its quality]. Loksatta. Thane. 26 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  33. "चित्रपट शताब्दीनिमित्त आज परिसंवाद" [Today's discussion about hundred years of Indian cinema]. Loksatta. Thane. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  34. "भारतीय चित्रपट शतसांवत्सरिक वर्षांनिमित्ताने 'प्रभात'तर्फे रविवारी विशेष कार्यक्रम" [Special program on centenary of Indian cinema by Prabhat]. Loksatta. Thane. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  35. Chatterjee, Gautam (15 February 2008). "For the passion of first love". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  36. Bhargava Dharwadker, Aparna (2005). "Jabbar Patel Theatre Academy, Pune". Theatres of Independence: Drama, Theory, and Urban Performance in India since 1947. University of Iowa Press. p. 413. ISBN 0877459614. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018.
  37. "Wir Inder vom Bahnhof Zoo" (in German). Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  38. "'मु. पो. बोंबिलवाडी' नाबाद ३३३!" [Bombilwadi: Not out 333!]. Loksatta (in Marathi). The Indian Express. 15 January 2003. Archived from the original on 11 May 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  39. Jose, Susan (20 February 2015). "Harishchandrachi Factory director to make Hindi debut". Hindustan Times. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
Awards
  1. "62nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. "Alpha Gaurav 2004 salutes the talent, spirit and essence of Mumbai". 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  3. "'Shwas' bags seven awards". Mid Day. 11 February 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. "56th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 82–83. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  5. "T V Chandran bags John Abraham award". Oneindia.in. 23 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  6. Rathore, Anurita (21 September 2009). "Amdavadis saw the Marathi film that could win Oscars next year". Ahmedabad Mirror. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  7. "Paresh Mokashi bags Aravindan Puraskaram". Oneindia.in. Thiruvananthapuram. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  8. "'Nave Valan' (New Turn) – Harishchandrachi Factory (Harishchandra's Factory)". NCPA. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  9. "The Gollapudi National Award Ceremony – 2009". Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. "Marathi director wins Gollapudi award". The Hindu. Chennai. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  11. Ashok Kumar, S. R. (17 March 2009). "Award for Paresh Mokashi". The Hindu. Chennai. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  12. "IFFK 2009: Awards". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  13. Nair, Chitra (21 September 2009). "Harishchandrachi Factory is India's Oscar entry". Press Trust of India. The Times of India. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  14. "Festival Report: 1st Kolhapur IFF". 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  15. "Marathi International Film and Theatre Awards 2010". Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  16. "'मिफ्टा'चा दिमाखदार सोहळा" [MIFTA award ceremony]. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  17. "PIFF: A Flashback Studded With Memories of Treasure". Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  18. "2010 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Award Winners" (Press release). Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  19. "2010 IFFLA When IndIa sparkked under the LA sky" (PDF). 8 May 2010. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  20. "Elizabeth Ekadashi and Killa win best Marathi film awards". The Times of India. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  21. "भीमसेन जोशी, सचिन तेंडुलकर, अनिल काकोडकर, मंगेश पाडगावकर, अभय बंग यांना 'महाराष्ट्र रत्न' पुरस्कार प्रदान" [Bhimsen Joshi, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kakodkar, Mangesh Padgaokar, Abhay Bang felicitated with Maharashtra Ratna]. 9 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  22. "वन मॅन आर्मीचं संमेलन" ["One-Man-Army" gathering]. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  23. "धमाल, रंगारंग 'असेही नाटय़संमेलन'!" [Unique gathering]. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  24. "परेश मोकाशी आचार्य अत्रे पुरस्काराने सन्मानित" [Paresh Mokashi felicitated with Acharya Atre Award]. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  25. "भाषाप्रभू पु.भा. भावे स्मृतिदिनी शनिवारी विशेष कार्यक्रम" [Special program on P. B. Bhave's death anniversary]. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  26. "Centenary celebration of Marathi films". The Indian Express. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
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