The Marathi film Natrang, which has created waves since its launch early this year, will kickstart the Incredible India section at the Munich festival (June 25-July 3), getting prominence over Hindi films like Dev.D, Ishqiya and Love, Sex Aur Dhokha.
“This is definitely a huge morale-booster for me and the crew.
Natrang has been a huge success at the box office. It is a commercial movie and yet it has received a tremendous response at international film festivals,” said director Ravi Jadhav.
Jadhav told DNA that he had not made changes in the film for international audiences. “I believe in being absolutely local. I have not cut the first lavani song in the film. This is what international juries and audiences appreciate,” said Jadhav.
Atul Kulkarni, the lead star, who plays a body builder and then a gay character in the film, said its selection showed that regional films have a greater appeal. “There are film festivals that have credibility. And Munich is one of them. Just when Indian films are being appreciated worldwide, Natrang has got selected. It is really wonderful and heartening for us all,” he said.
“It again proves my point that the more regional the theme is, the more universal an appeal it has,” he added.
According to Kulkarni and Jadhav, one of the main jury persons for Munich was a jury member for the Pune International Film Festival early this year. The member was highly impressed by Natrang’s story and told the filmmaker to send in the entry.
