Rise above Monetary Considerations to Achieve Balanced Development of Goa Says
Rajendra Talak
Goan Filmmaker and National award winner Rajendra Talak gave a passionate call to the Goans to rise above material and monetary considerations while working for the balanced socio-economic development of all sections of people in the state without losing their identity. Speaking at IFFI-2010 press conference today he said we need to be more sensitive and responsible towards ecology & environment of Goa while looking forward to have good quality of life for all.
Rajendra Talak’s first Konkani feature film O’Maria with an investment of Rs 90 lakh has already been screened yesterday evening at IFFI-2010 . Veteran actress Sulbha Arya, Cory Goldberg and cinematographer Sunny Joseph were also present on the occasion.
Talking about stopping “mad race for getting into money alone” while ignoring very basics of survival, Shri Talak said that we must come forward with planned developmental activities not at the cost of losing identity, ecology, environment and the social fabric. He said “greed for achieving development at any cost” is likely to demolish the socio-economic and cultural edifice of not only Goa but the whole country.
Recognising that drug trafficking is a major threat to the Goan social structure, the Konkani Producer and Director made a fervent appeal to all including local government to work out comprehensive and viable strategies to bring all kinds of good, positive and sustainable development. He said we need to look forward for creating awareness among common people through responsible, better, focused and value based cinema so that the posterity could have positive and better inheritance in terms of growth and development in all spheres of day to day life.
Complementing the Goa government for supporting film makers with finances Shri Talak expressed his determination to continuously work on film projects which will help in preserving environment, ecology, forests, water bodies and above all the social fabric.
Expressing his concern over large scale mining activities Shri Talak recommended eco friendly industrialization besides regulating number of tourists in Goa. He said sanitation, health & hygiene, water & electric supply and other essential services have been getting affected due to “uncontrolled” influx of tourists and visitors. He also recommended setting up medical tourism infrastructure in the State which would help in building the image of Goa in a different manner.
On the screenings of his film O’Maria, Shri Talak revealed that Canada and other countries have shown interest in screening it and he was keen to screen it in as many places as possible. He said he would be bringing the film to the upcoming International Film Festival at Mumbai.
Veteran actress Sulbha Arya stressed on the need to conserve and preserve better things for posterity without losing our identity.
Cory Goldberg who studied in Art School in New York and acted in O’Maria said he was happy and content with the role he did in the film.
O’ Maria is a film about Maria who lives on land that she inherited while the land adjacent to hers is that of her late brother Johns’ who sold his property to a hotel company before he died. However the contract stated that they will pay him half the money only when his sister Maria also sells her property to them. John left behind two sons and a wife who are also eyeing her property. But Maria refuses to sell her property as a protest again the rising encroachment of tourist resorts, vanishing goan lifestyle and culture and livelihood. In her fight, she also has the support of one of her nephews, Kevin and a tourist Mike. The resistance becomes a family feud and after much dramatic twists and turns, the family is able to restore peace and wisdom.
Rajendra Talak has been involved with theatre from his college days and has worked on several award winning plays. In various capacities he has served cultural institutions like Kalangan, Gomant Vidhya Niketan, Kala Vibhag, Konkani Bhavan amongst others. He has produced a Konkani music cassette Daryacha Deger and Lhara and helps organize music concerts like Konkani Sangeet Samhelan and Kala Rang. He produced the Konkani telefilm Shitu, produced and directed Aleesha, which won National Awards for Best Film and Best Direction and Antarnad which also won five National Awards. Presently he is the President of the Goan Organisation of Filmmakers.
PP/TAR/DR