When actor- directorAnanth Narayan Mahadevan made a film like Red Alert(which released recently) I was quite surprised. Anant has been making movies like Aksar, Aggar, Dil Maange More etc and hence a movie on naxalism in A.P from Ananth seemed difficult for me to believe. On seeing the movie I realised that while the movie had its issues it still had its merits. The most important thing to be noticed from Red Alert was that in spite of the fact that the film had many popular actors, Ananth ensured that the spotlight remained on the core issue and not on the actors. Just when I was wondering whether Red Alert was just an exception in the filmography of Anant Mahadevan, I got to know that he was coming up with his first Marathi film- Mee Sindhutai Sapkal, which was touted as a biopic and that too on a living personality.
As news of the film doing the festival rounds started spreading, I was all the more intrigued and tried to find out more about the film and the person in question- Sindhutai Sapkal. What surprised me even more was that I had never really heard of this lady earlier- a lady who had become mother to more than a thousand orphan children by nurturing them in her various institutions in Maharashtra. With such an interesting premise it was quite evident for me to go ahead and watch the movie and find out for myself whether Red Alert was just a flash in the pan for Ananth or if he was really capable of tackling such serious subjects as well.
Mee Sindhutai Sapkal starts off with Sindhutai on a flight to the U.S to attend the 1st International Marathi Conference and while on the flight she interacts with a fellow passenger ( Ananth Mahadevan ). During the flight and later on before the conference Sindhutai reminisces about her past and thus we are drawn into her life story. Chindi ( Pranjal Shetye ) is a 12 yr old intelligent girl who is happy to balance her life between school and grazing buffaloes somewhere in the interiors of Maharashtra (Vidarbha?). Even as Chindi completes her fourth standard in school, she is suddenly married off to a much older man, Shrihari Sapkal ( Upendra Limaye ), a farm employee. All this happens in the 1950’s and then the story moves forward to the early 1970’s. By now Chindi ( Tejaswini Pandit ) is a mother of two sons and has adjusted very well to the conditions surrounding her at her husband’s place. To keep up with her interest in reading she reads the newspapers in which the groceries come wrapped up. Her mother in law and husband are against this habit and her husband in particular feels that she is doing so in order to prove that she is more educated than him.
Later Chindi gets involved in a conflict with the local landlord Asatkar ( Ganesh Yadav ) and upset at this Asatkar instigates her husband saying that Chindi had been sleeping with him. Though pregnant, Chindi is disowned by her in-laws and her husband and she gives birth to a daughter in the cow-shed right outside her in-laws place. When her mother also fails to accept Chindi and her daughter, she contemplates suicide. Having attempted suicide twice Chindi realises that she has to live for her daughter and thus moves about from place to place singing devotional songs and facing the World bravely. While caring for her daughter Chindi who now rechristens herself as Sindhu also starts looking after other orphan children. She starts becoming known as a social activist and slowly expands her care and support for orphan children.
Years later her husband returns back but does he find the same Chindi or Sindhutai? What does she go on to do from there? All this and more is what the film talks about. Ananth Mahadevan uses a sort of non linear approach in telling us the story of Sindhutai in the film. The story moves back and forth in time as we keep following the amazing journey into her life. Based on the book ‘Mee Vanvasi’ by Sindhutai Sapkal, the screenplay by Ananth Mahadevan and Sanjay Pawar is more or less bang on target as it does justice to the tale of the social crusader – Sindhutai. In terms of the narration what is commendable is that though there is a chance of the filmmaker getting carried away and incorporating unnecessary melodrama in such stories, Ananth steers clear of all that.Also the use of music by Ashok Patki goes clearly with the theme and the nature of the film and gives it relevant support. Talking about performances the seasoned artistes – Upendra Limaye, Ganesh Yadav and Neena Kulkarni do what is expected of them while the film is essentially about the 3 artistes who portray the various stages in Sindhutai’s life. As the playful 12 year old girl Chindi, Pranjal Shetye is more than adequate and conveys a lot through her eyes. Jyoti Chandekar who plays the elder Sindhutai is effective as well but it is Tejaswini Pandit who portrays the major part of the journey in the life of Sindhutai ( from the 20’s to the 40’s ) who literally steals the show. Whether it is playing the meek wife at home or playing the fiery activist, she is completely at ease and does a commendable job.
Which brings me to the point that it’s interesting to note that we probably need to recognize a lot many more achievers while they are still alive and not just remember them long after they are gone. In that ways Mee Sindhutai Sapkal is a rare example of a film which tries in its own way to salute the undying spirit of one person who still remains unknown to a lot many people, especially outside Maharashtra. If Red Alert showed an indication then Mee Sindhutai Sapkal is clearly an affirmation of the fact that Ananth Mahadevan can indeed do justice to serious cinema as well. Here’s hoping he continues to make more such films.And how can I not but mention a thing or two about the producers- Sachin Khanolkar and Bindiya Khanolkar. Its certainly commendable that they have put in their faith in such a project and ensured that it reaches the target audience. Be it in the form of ensuring that the film does the festival rounds or gets a good distribution deal, they have done a pretty good job indeed ( of course a little bit more of publicity could have helped ).
For those who like serious cinema and support the cause of regional cinema this is a movie that can be seen for sure. I just hope that there are many such people to support such films and encourage them.
Originally published in PFC- http://passionforcinema.com/mee-sindhutai-sapkal-movie-review-reasonably-inspiring/
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