Movie Review: Harishchandrachi Factory

I guess a movie not in Hindi or English is foreign cinema, isnt it:)? Anyways Harishchandrachi is a Marathi movie on the making of the first Indian silent movie, 'Raja Harishchandra' and of course the start of the biggest film industry in the world. It is such a beautiful and positive movie, its actually surprising! Most of the non-mainstream movies in India seem to focus so much on the depressing aspects of life, this movie would actually qualify as an exception! And it was India's entry to the Oscars in the foreign film category too! As a friend mentioned, he kept waiting for tragedy to strike at any point in the movie which eventually doesn't!

Harishchandrachi is the story of Dadasaheb Phalke or Khepla as he prefers to be called while making this first Indian movie. I might have used the words, of the 'struggles' of Khepla to make the movie, but its been shown in such a positive way, that using the word struggles doesn't do justice to the tone of the movie!

Anyways, the movie traces the dedication of this one person to bring about a change, to do something new and innovative and the lengths he is willing to go to achieve his aim. He almost loses his eyes too because of watching the movies again and again while trying to learn about them!! Its just so beautifully shown!

There are multiple sequences in the movie which steal your heart. Phalke's fascination with the moving pictures, his study of the movie making methods, willing to even sell his household belongings in the process, the scepticism of his neighbours and friends, his journey to London to learn the art... Its all so fascinating and interesting to watch and imagine, of what all he would have gone through in those times..

He goes off to London without a contact where he runs into a Marathi when he tries to get vegetarian food. He scouts for women in the red light areas to star in his movie. When back in India Phalke introduces the moving pictures camera to his family. How they record their family moments, and especially the video of a pea plant growing from a pea pod and so on are mesmerising. There are lots of such well crafted moments in the movie to remember.

How he gets the motley cast and support staff together is also a fun sequence to watch. He even goes through many ups and downs during this process. When women in India are not ready to come before the camera and the men dressed as women not ready to cut their moustache as their fathers are still living!! When even prostitutes are not willing to work in the movie, the cast wonders if their jobs are so low!! Its all so hilarious and entertaining to watch him sort out all these problem, makes you laugh out loud!

Phalke has been shown to be an almost mad character! Not serious about life, taking it all as it comes. A dreamer, with a vision much beyond many around him. A person who acts on his dreams too, rather than only dreaming about them. And a happy go-lucky person. He has been so well portrayed, with no shadows of sadness or negativity around him.

And of course the support given to him by his wife and family is just so refreshing. She is willing to overwork herself, give up her household belongings, share him with his new ideas.. all for the dream of her man... And to do so with full interest and enthusiasm and no regrets! And so do his kids, always there for him, with optimism and enthusiasm. Such a happy family, isn't it:)?

Great character etchings, and so so positive.. Really good feel-good cinema.. and so realistic too! Am not sure how true the story is, but its still so wonderfully etched and executed. Truly brilliant! Would give it 4 stars. A must watch!