<p>Filmmaker Ramesh K Kamath’s Konkani movie <em>Apsara Dhara </em>was screened at the Bengaluru International Film Festival 2020 (BIFFES 2020) on Monday (March 2) and it clicked with a section of the audience. Speaking exclusively to DH, the director opened about the challenges associated with making a children’s movie in a minority language and the future of Konkani cinema.<br /><br /><strong>What is the core plot of Apsara Dhara?</strong><br /><br />Apsara Dhara is a message-based film and revolves around how children should pay attention to education and not wealth. The movie also touches upon the importance of providing education to the girl child. <br /><br /><strong>What are the advantages of screening your movie at BIFFES 2020?</strong><br /><br />Sadly, no one generally comes to watch a Konkani language film. When we come to film festivals, we manage to get some crowd.<br /><br /><strong>What are the difficulties associated with making a Konkani movie?</strong><br /><br />Konkani movies can’t be very commercially successful as the market is small. For me, it (filmmaking) is not a profession as I do it only out of love for the language. Also, Apsara Dhara is quite a small movie and the total budget is around Rs 38 lakh.<br /><br /><strong>Does the Konkani film industry receive sufficient support from the government?</strong></p>.<p>Yes, the state government is providing aid to movies made in minority languages.<br /><br /><strong>Do you feel that streaming platforms will help Konkani cinema find wide patronage?</strong></p>.<p>OTT platforms have the potential to help Konkani cinema reach a wide audience. I have applied to Netflix and waiting for the final outcome.<br /><br /><strong>What are the future prospects of Konkani cinema?</strong></p>.<p>I don’t think that Konkani cinema can grow beyond a point as the community is quite scattered. I think, there are not more than 35,000 speakers of the language in Bengaluru so its hard for movies to get a long run in theatres. </p>
<p>Filmmaker Ramesh K Kamath’s Konkani movie <em>Apsara Dhara </em>was screened at the Bengaluru International Film Festival 2020 (BIFFES 2020) on Monday (March 2) and it clicked with a section of the audience. Speaking exclusively to DH, the director opened about the challenges associated with making a children’s movie in a minority language and the future of Konkani cinema.<br /><br /><strong>What is the core plot of Apsara Dhara?</strong><br /><br />Apsara Dhara is a message-based film and revolves around how children should pay attention to education and not wealth. The movie also touches upon the importance of providing education to the girl child. <br /><br /><strong>What are the advantages of screening your movie at BIFFES 2020?</strong><br /><br />Sadly, no one generally comes to watch a Konkani language film. When we come to film festivals, we manage to get some crowd.<br /><br /><strong>What are the difficulties associated with making a Konkani movie?</strong><br /><br />Konkani movies can’t be very commercially successful as the market is small. For me, it (filmmaking) is not a profession as I do it only out of love for the language. Also, Apsara Dhara is quite a small movie and the total budget is around Rs 38 lakh.<br /><br /><strong>Does the Konkani film industry receive sufficient support from the government?</strong></p>.<p>Yes, the state government is providing aid to movies made in minority languages.<br /><br /><strong>Do you feel that streaming platforms will help Konkani cinema find wide patronage?</strong></p>.<p>OTT platforms have the potential to help Konkani cinema reach a wide audience. I have applied to Netflix and waiting for the final outcome.<br /><br /><strong>What are the future prospects of Konkani cinema?</strong></p>.<p>I don’t think that Konkani cinema can grow beyond a point as the community is quite scattered. I think, there are not more than 35,000 speakers of the language in Bengaluru so its hard for movies to get a long run in theatres. </p>