Pavsacha Nibandh
| Pavsacha Nibandh | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Nagraj Manjule |
| Written by | Nagraj Manjule |
| Produced by | Balkrishna Manjule Sheshraj Manjule Gargee Kulkarni Nagraj Manjule |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti |
| Edited by | Kutub Inamdar |
| Music by | Avinash Sonwane |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | ZEE5 |
Release date |
|
Running time | 24 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Marathi |
| Budget | est.₹35–40 lakh[1] |
Pavsacha Nibandh (transl. An Essay Of The Rain) 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.[2]
The film was premiered at the National Film Archive of India in Pune on 2 September 2018.[3] It was released on 15 July 2020 and available for streaming on ZEE5.
Plot
[edit]A small boy is given a school assignment to write an essay on monsoons and all its numerous rewards. On his way back to his thatched-roof house at one end of this small village in the Western Ghats, he runs into his father lying drunk on the road. Here, we see his family struggle to get through this day when the rain won't let it. This boy has to finish his essay in time for school the next day.
Cast
[edit]- Meghraj Shinde as Raja
- Gargee Kulkarni as Mangal
- Sheshraj Manjule Raja's father
- Rahi Manjule as Pari[4]
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]Pavsacha Nibandh is a Majule's second short film, following Pistulya, commenced production in 2017 and wrapped up post-production in 2018.[5][6]
Filming
[edit]Pavsacha Nibandh was filmed over seven and a half days in Pavana and Mulshi of Pune district in Maharashtra, along with some spots in the Western Ghats. Several scenes were filmed in villages within a 40 km range. While artificial showers are utilized by some, the majority of on-screen rainfall is authentic.[1]
Release
[edit]Pavsacha Nibandh was digitally released on ZEE5 on 15 July 2020.[7]
Reception
[edit]"Bagging the Best Debut Director accolade for my short film Pistulya was a significant milestone. Now, clinching the Best Director award once again for Pavsacha Nibandh feels like a profound journey completed. Despite initial hesitations due to past hurdles, my team's relentless efforts ensured the film's realization."
– Nagraj Manjule, In an interview with The Times of India[3]
Critical reception
[edit]Anupam Kant Verma of Firstpost praised Nagraj Manjule's directing skills, highlighting his ability to bring out compelling performances from the actors and extract drama from everyday moments. Specifically appreciate how Manjule uses sound, such as the sound of leaking water, to enhance the storytelling and create atmosphere. Overall, the reviewer is impressed by Manjule's attention to detail, particularly in sound design, which adds depth and life to the film.[8] Rahul Desai of Film Companion praised the film for its visually stunning portrayal of rural life, akin to the aesthetic of a monsoon chai, while also highlighting its subversion of cultural perceptions. He appreciate how the director uses genre conventions to deliver unexpected narratives, comparing it to the technique employed in the film Sairat.[9] Yash Gawad of The Indian Wire appreciate how the film subtly portrays the harsh reality of how rains, typically seen as a beautiful aspect of nature, can actually disrupt the lives of poor families. He commend the film for not explicitly shouting its social message but rather gently depicting a reality that is often ignored. The reviewer also notes how the film contrasts the joy of other children in the village enjoying the rains with the struggles of the protagonist, who sees it as a curse. Overall, the reviewer seems to be highlighting the film's ability to shed light on important social issues without being overly didactic.[10]
Awards
[edit]_for_the_Non-feature_film_%E2%80%93_PAVASACHA_NIBANDHA,_at_the_65th_National_Film_Awards_Function,_in_New_Delhi.JPG)
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 65th National Film Awards | Best Director in Non-Feature Film | Nagraj Manjule | Won | [8][11] |
| Best Audiography | Avinash Sonwane | Won | |||
| 2018 | Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles | Audience Award for Best Short Film | Pavsacha Nibandh | Won | [8][3] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "'Rains Are Different For Those Who Experience It, And For Those Who Observe It'". Outlook India. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Director Nagraj Manjule's best Marathi films". The Times of India. 22 October 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Nagraj Manjule's National award-winning short film to premiere in Pune". The Times of India. 2 September 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Vinay, JS (1 March 2022). "Pavsacha Nibandha: A tale of irony on the rains". Round Table India. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Film is the art to express your thoughts lying within: Eminent Director Nagraj Manjule". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Pavsacha Nibandh". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "Nagraj Manjule's Award-winning Marathi Short Film 'Pavasacha Nibhandh' to Premiere on OTT". News18. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Pavsacha Nibandh review: Nagraj Manjule overturns romanticism of rains with a simple tale on social inequity". Firstpost. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Desai, Rahul (15 July 2020). "Pavsacha Nibandh Short Film Review: Nagraj Manjule's Short Is A Powerfully Worded Snapshot Of Rain And Pain". Filmcompanion.in. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "'Pavsacha Nibandh' an Indian Film which portrayed Class Divide through Rains". The Indian Wire. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "65th national film awards : 'पावसाचा निबंध'च्या नावानं चांगभलं- नागराज मंजुळे". Loksatta (in Marathi). 13 April 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2024.