Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Just as the people of South India promote their regional languages, there is a need to support and promote Konkani films and music, said dignitaries at the unveiling of the poster, music, and teaser of the upcoming Konkani feature film ‘Umesh’, held at the Maquinez Palace, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) on Sunday.
Former India A and IPL cricketer Swapnil Asnodkar attended the function as the special guest, while international singer and fadista Sonia Shirsat was the guest of honour.
The film is produced by Gurunath Atmaram Patade and directed by Vardhan Vijaykumar Kamat under the banner of Guru & Associates Productions.
Speaking on the occasion, the guests congratulated the team for their efforts in promoting Konkani cinema and wished the film success.
‘Umesh’ tells the story of a once-celebrated local hero who now lives a quiet and reclusive life in a rural Goan village. The film explores themes of identity, rejection, human connection, and the search for recognition in a society that often forgets its own talents.
The narrative follows two aspiring filmmakers who set out to document Umesh’s life. As they dig deeper into his past, they uncover truths about his struggles, isolation, and the fragile bond that slowly forms between them. Through this journey, the film reflects on trust, memory, and the resilience of individuals who seek peace on their own terms.
The film has a running time of about 98 minutes and will be released in Konkani with English subtitles. It is scheduled for release in cinemas in April.
Asnodkar said there is a need to support Konkani films as it will encourage the artistes.
“As a cricketer, I have travelled around, especially South India where I have seen the craze for regional languages like Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. The people there want such films more than Bollywood. So why can’t we Goans do that? This will encourage Goan artistes,” he said.
“A lot of effort goes into producing a film. Music and film go hand in hand with cricket; it has a calming effect. For us cricketers, the crowd, the tension, and pressure are huge. When we go back to our rooms after things don’t go as per plan, we need to unwind and refresh and can’t keep thinking about the same thoughts as it frustrates you and affects performance the following day. So we listen to music or watch a good movie, then it calms you down and the focus is much clearer,” he added.
In her address, Shirsat applauded the use of Dhalo in the film’s music.
“Dhalo is the folk form from Goa and we have the Dhalo girl, Divya, who does such a beautiful rendition of the Dhalo and gives such a beautiful flavour, taking it to a platform that it deserves to be on. The accompaniment and arrangement are totally different. This will give the Dhalo genre a big boost,” she said.
“We still have ‘Hanv Saiba Poltodi Veta’ and we sometimes consider ‘Dekhnii’ as a very simple thing, but like ‘Dekhnii’ or ‘Mando’, these are art forms that need to go to the national level. I am very happy that Dhalo has been used in this film. We need to promote Konkani music,” she said.
Urging everyone to watch ‘Umesh’ and spread the word, Kamat thanked everyone who was part of the film.
“The film belongs to the people. Everyone has put their heart and soul into this film. I thank Guru sir for keeping his faith in me as a first-time director. I urge everyone—Goans as well as those who don’t understand Konkani, as it is available with English subtitles. This film was mentioned among the 21 list of films at the National Film Development Council (NFDC) during IFFI in Goa. Many festival delegates from countries like Germany, Australia, UK, US, and Russia have watched the film and gave positive reviews. We need the support of people to spread the word by mouth and this will allow us to make more films,” he said.
