According to National Crime Record Bureau statistics, 2,70,940
farmers committed suicide in India between 1995 and 2011. In the state of
Maharashtra alone this number was 53,818. One can imagine the plight of farmers
who are driven to such extreme steps by the compounding issues of anti-farmer
farm policies of the governments and the vagaries of nature. Several directors
have touched upon this issue in their films in the Marathi film. Gabhricha Paus (The damned rain) is one
such significant attempt by director Satish Manwar.
Director: Satish Manwar
Film clip
In the background of a series of farmers committing suicide
due to varied circumstances, Alka (Sonali Kulkarni) takes upon herself to
protect her husband Kisna (Girish Kulkarni) at any cost. She does not allow him
to get into depression, nor does she allow him to be alone and aloof. She makes
sure that her little son accompanies the father like a faithful dog everywhere
to the great displeasure of Kisna.
The film does portray the angst of a farming family, which
is in such a painful dilemma like never before: they cannot think anything
other than farming; and yet it is this farming that has failed them finally. It
is not that there are no solutions to this rural crisis. It is just that
distressed farmers seem to be a non-entity to powers that be.
The versatile Sonali Kulkarni comes alive very natural as
the anxious wife of a defeated farmer. Here is a film that helps you grasp the
complexities a farming community has to address, even as it fights hard to stay
alive!
- Melwyn Pinto SJ
