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| Cast and crew of Aiz Maka Faleam Tuka. |
-Brian Mendonca
On the sidelines of Day 1 of the seminar on 'Goan Identity, Politics and Resonance' I chanced to notice that ESG, would be screening the premier of the Konkani film Aiz Maka Faleam Tuka (2023). I called Sachin during the tea break and he bid me welcome for the show. I was in fact at Government College, Quepem at that time for the seminar. Sachin is the curator of the films at the ESG.
The time for the show to start was 6.30 p.m. Sachin was adjusting the sound to ensure it came from the screen side and not from the audience. The samosas and tea served in the foyer took us to 7 p.m. There is an annual membership fee at esg.co,in but if you want to stroll in for a particular film you simply pay Rs.120 and take a seat on first come first served basis.
Fortified by the snacks we settled down to what proved to be a gripping movie. The soundscape made a big difference to the film, The eerie setting punctuated by the poder's cycle horn spoke volumes. It was like a documentary of a day in the life of a Goan in Goa.
It was a great decision to go for the show. As expected, it gave me vital leads on the challenges faced by the intrepid filmmakers who want to make a film on Goa. The Q & A session at the end of the show was too good to be missed. We wound up only at 9.
To be in the presence of Sreejith Karanavar, director; Akshay Singh, writer; actors Prashanti Talpankar and Ravio Fernandes was a bit unreal - specially after seeing the actors on film a while before. It was like we were sharing the set with them.
The cast and crew fielded questions from the audience on animism in the film; the choice of using local cast; the significance of the title; the shooting location of the film; and what was it like filming in a language they had no clue about. The fact that the movie was made by a production team which is not from Goa was much appreciated. The movie was produced during lockdown and released now.
The movie is shot in Carona, in North Goa. The tunnel is part of one of the mines in North Goa.
I liked the last shot of the man peering at the Mandovi bridge and the locked city of Panjim. It is a chilling reminder that there are forces out there that we cannot - for all our anchorage in various faiths - even begin to understand.
There are so many powerful Goan themes such as the one explored by this movie. One only needs to have the will to do it. This feature film is a valuable addition to the raft of serious Konkani films on Goa.
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Pic taken by Brian Mendonca at Entertainment Society, Goa (ESG), Panjim, Goa on Friday, 27th February 2023. Updated 6/2/23.
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