In yesteryears, there were a handful of films that dominated the world of Konkani cinema. Those classic films, printed in black and white, included Mogacho Anvddo, Amchem Noxib, Nirmonn, Boglantt, Bhuimarantlo Munis.
Many efforts were put into the making of those classic films – be it the script, direction, music, songs, background music and selection of cast – besides pre and post-production. And, all those attempts yielded rich dividends by way of wide viewership from movie buffs.
Today, with advancements in technology, filmmaking has been made easy and feasible for anyone who is interested in filmmaking. And, there are many who will volunteer to produce new Konkani films provided they carry a good storyline wrapped with songs, comedy and music.
With the exception of a handful, the Konkani films seeing the light of day these days do not carry the quality aspect, and thus, many of those regional films turn out to be a flop show after the grand release.
Back in the day, writers, directors and producers put their heart and soul into the Konkani films which they were working on. That kind of passion and dedication is not commonly seen among the filmmakers and producers today.
As the saying goes ‘haste is waste’, and many of the current crop of Konkani filmmaker only seek recognition as directors or producers of their films.
Before and after the release of any new Konkani film, the marketing aspect, which is a must for wider viewership, takes a back seat. Nobody seems to be interested in the promotion of the newly-released film, and consequently there are few viewers, thus running a big losses to the entire production.
In recent years, several Konkani films were produced and released with much fanfare, but there were hardly any screenings of those new releases. Efforts had been made to screen them in city theatres or even in the villages, but the viewership from film lovers was below expectations.
Verna-based Irineu Gonsalves who enjoys watching tiatrs and films during his leisure time says that the quality of Konkani films has dropped drastically in recent years.
“Except for the Konkani film Nachumia Kumpasar, by Canacona-based, Bardroy Barreto, who presented something different and worthwhile on the silver screen, nobody else worked so hard on such a big project and achieved success at every screening. It became a box office hit wherever it was screened and continues to win accolades from the audience,” says Barreto.
Anjuna-based Jessie Dias, who has watched Konkani films of the olden days, says that those black and white films cannot be compared to the many films released today.
“Those films had a touch of class of their own, and watching them over and over again was a treat. All credit goes to Mapusa-based Al-Jerry Braganza who stepped into the film industry and gave Goans the first Konkani film, Mogacho Anvddo. And then, the journey of Konkani films began and continues till today,” she shares.
“Until and unless our Goan filmmakers and producers try to think out of the box and give the audience something different, we will probably always have to watch those low-rated films, which carry no punch," says he.
“Apart from the quantity of films produced annually, the quality in every aspect of the film has to improve and go beyond the bar in order to win appreciation from the audience,” Dias opines.
“The cost of production of a Konkani film is quite high today, and unless you get a good producer who will not compromise on the quality of the film, you are bound to face several hiccups while making a new film,” notes Verna-based Agnelo Fernandes, who has worked on Konkani films in the past.
“It is a tedious task and every minute aspect of the film has to be handled diligently in order to taste success after its release. If luck favours you, then you could win, and receive appreciation from viewers who enjoy films,” he said.
