Complex subjects excite me as a filmmaker: Chitra Palekar

Mumbai, Sep 29 (UNI) Noted script writer Chitra Palekar who is making her directorial debut with a marathi film 'Maati Maay (A Grave-keeper's Tale)' says that complex subjects excite her as a filmmaker.

''Different and offbeat subjects like 'Shwaas', 'Dombivali Fast' and 'Devrai' dealt efficiently, have received an overwhelming response from the Marathi-speaking audience. It is wrong to say that Marathi movies face hurdles in finding good theatres,'' Palekar told UNI here.

'Maati Maay' produced, written and directed by her was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8. The film starring Nandita Das and Atul Kulkarni along with a host of local theatre group artistes from Amravati in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region is based on a story by celebrated novelist Mahashweta Devi.

Palekar said she had been in the film industry for nearly 25 years and it was the first time she was directing a film. ''I always wanted to do films that excited me. I am doing a Marathi movie because it was my milieu. If I do a film it should be a challenging story to handle. Otherwise why do a movie at all?'' she asked.

Chitra said her debut film had lot of complexities. ''There are so many layers between the three protagonists apart from their relations with the society,'' she added.

'Maati Maay' is a story of a woman Chandi, who does the job of burying young children's dead bodies. Her job is also to tend the graveyard. The duty has been passed on to her as a legacy by her ancestors in the absence of a male member in her family.

''She does it proudly till she delivers a child and becomes a nursing mother. The children's death affect her badly and she wants to give up her job. But, being from a low caste, the rigid caste system does not allow her to go her way,'' Chitra elaborated.

Chandi rebels and she is meted out a very severe punishment by the gaurdians of the society. But, eventually she gets justice as her son stands by her, Palekar reveals.

''Nandita Das makes her debut in Marathi films. Atul Kulkarni plays Narsu, her husband. Both the actors are extremely good and when they agreed to do my film, I did not have to look further.

Nandita has worked so hard on this film that she dubbed it on her own,'' she said.

Chitra said she shot the film in five months near Amravati. ''I purchased the rights of the story from Mahashweta Devi and discussed my film with her. The broad story is about an Indian woman who wants to do things her way but is not allowed to do so by the society. It is a concept which is found anywhere in the country, so I decided to base my film in Maharashtra,'' Chitra added.

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