By Vijayanta N Chitale
Dhangar in Marathi means one who rears up the sheep or a shepherd. Wadi means a small settlement. In its accent morphing the word became Bangarwadi. Amol Palekar directs this movie of 1995 on story by Venkatesh Madgulkar, famous for rural orientation in his stories. The movie is about a young teacher, Master (Chandrakant Kulkarni) who gets posted at Bangarwadi, a hamlet in Aundh state (a renowned princely state in early 20th century).
Master arrives at Bangarwadi. He is ushered into school by Karbhari. The school is unkept and virtually in ruins. Master sets it right. Villagers are reluctant to send their wards to school as they feel, their wards have better work to do – looking after sheep. The school still starts off with just two students. There are more of curious parents than wards in school on first day. Faced with low interest for education in villagers, Master takes to winning over the trust of villagers so that sooner or later they would send their wards for studying. He starts helping them by addressing their day-to-day problems like getting mails written and posted, procuring smaller money change from main market and other chores. Soon the number of students coming to school begins to rise.
In the meanwhile a wayward wanderer Aayboo comes to village and starts staying with Master. Ananda, a prankster simpleton of village too joins Master. Baltya doesn’t like presence of Master, makes mockery of him and even threatens him not to interfere too much into village life.
One day Sheku comes to Master seeking help to procure a buffalo for him. The Master express inability to do so. Sheku’s wife herself takes on place of buffalo in ploughing the field. Master feels sorry for unable to do anything in this case, although he had been helping villagers with various errands. Once the coins he has brought n exchange are stolen from his room. Master is terribly shaken and disturbed by incident. While father rebukes him, mother consoles him. The money is actually removed by Ananda, who is on look out for grub to fend hunger.
Baltya around same time spreads rumors about Master having affair with Anju, Karbhari’s daughter. Following which Karbhari, who had been supporting Master all the while, had stopped talking to him. But eventually Karbhari reconciles when comes to know the truth.
Seeing the success of school and cooperation of villagers, Master proposes to set up community gymnasium. As usual is mocked for while, but all the people come to support his idea and actually help in constructing the gymnasium. Master invites the king of Aundh for inaugurating the gymnasium and blesses the villagers.
Karbhari one day tells Master that he had a dream and that his own end is near. Soon Karbhari passes away. Kakoba consoles Master on reality of life. An unexpected turn takes place, which shocks everybody including Master. Sheku, to whom Karbhari had entrusted responsibility of his daughter Anju, falls for her and wants to marry her. He deserts his wife and leaves village along with Anju.
Around same time Bangarwadi s engulfed with draught. For long there is no rain. Master writes to state administration but in vain. No help comes through. Sheep begin to die. People start leaving the village in search of pasture and better prospects elsewhere.
Although the movie is slow pitched, the shots of mass exodus are very touching and bring forth the pain in simplicity. The story, which was set in back drop of late thirty of last century, holds true even today. We talk of educated India, but that’s superficial. At grassroots level problem still remains the same. Master thought of winning confidence of villagers, by doing their errands, before long they would send their wards to school. Even today, government has to provide numerous incentives at various levels so that people send their children to gain education. The job of teacher is certainly one of commitment, empathy, dedication and unstinted devotion. Amol Palekar, whose movies have always focused on social issues, has brought out the qualities in teacher, within limitation that every person has.
The cast also includes Chandrakant Mandhhare, Sunil Ranade, Nandu Madhav, Chinmayee Surve. Vanraj Bhatia composes music. There are no songs in the movie. The screenplay was by Chitra Palekar.
Bangarwadi has drawn various accolades. It won 5 Maharashtra state awards in 1996, Kalnirnaya Award Best Film (1997), Filmfare Award (1997), for Best Film and Direction, National Award 1995 – Best Feature Film in Marathi. The move also has distinction of being screened at Int’l Film Festival of India, London Film Festival 1996, Cairo Film Festival 1996, Karlovy Vary int’l Film Festival.
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1 comment:
I bought a CD of the film and liked it immensely. With English sub-titles, it will earn a bigger audience.
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