Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Actors and filmmakers associated with the internationally acclaimed Konkani film Juze voiced strong criticism against the Goa government for allegedly failing to adequately support Konkani cinema despite the language receiving official recognition and Goan films earning international accolades.
The concerns were raised during a post-screening Q&A session held as part of the four-day Prashanti Film Fest at ManoShobha Kalaghar in Loliem, Canacona.
Lead actor Sudesh Bhise called for a dedicated government policy to promote Konkani cinema on the lines of support extended to Marathi cinema in Maharashtra. He suggested measures such as tax-free screenings and greater access to cinema halls across Goa.
Editor of Juze, Sidhesh Naik, highlighted the challenges faced by Konkani filmmakers in commercial theatres, stating that multiplex chains such as INOX demand a 70:30 revenue-sharing model, making screenings financially unviable in a small state like Goa.
International award-winning actor Prashanti Talpankar criticised the state’s film finance scheme, describing the three-tier funding policy as flawed. She pointed out that although a decade-long backlog involving 30 films was cleared last year, issues related to jury decisions continued to hamper the process.
The film Juze, which created a record by winning 14 awards at the Goa State Film Festival, reportedly received only Rs 10 lakh under the C-category financial assistance scheme. Following protests by director Miransha Naik in September last year, the Entertainment Society of Goa had assured a re-evaluation of the films. However, the actors alleged that no action has been taken for the past eight months.
Questioning the government’s commitment towards regional cinema, the participants asked why producers would invest in Konkani films if authorities remained “indifferent and insensitive” towards the industry.
Actors Hrishikesh Naik and Pranav Narote also participated in the discussion, which was moderated by theatre artist Samyukta Pagi.
The artists were felicitated by noted doctor Dr. Vilas Pavaskar, Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Ramesh Tawadkar, and Vijay D’Souza.
Organisers said the festival witnessed an overwhelming response from cinema enthusiasts, members of the film fraternity, and local audiences who attended screenings of acclaimed Konkani films by Goan directors.
