“Paltadcho Manis” (Konkani Film) opens the Indian Panorama - feature film section
	12:8 IST

The Indian Panorama – Feature Film Section was inaugurated today at the ongoing 40th International Film Festival of India at Panaji, Goa with the screening of the Konkani Feature Film Paltadcho Manis (The man Beyond the Bridge) directed by Shri Laxmikant Shetgaonkar and Produced by National Film Development Corporation, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Shri Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, Director and cast and crew of the film were present at the inaugural. The story of the 96-minute film revolves around Vinayak, a forest guard, who lives a lonely life in a government house in the dense forests of Goa-Karnatake border. The rejection of his repeated pleas for transfer has left him bitter. His only interaction is with the labourers in the teak plantation and all he has are memories of his dead wife. One night he comes across a filthy, unkempt woman lying in the compound of his house. He drives her away but she keeps returning. From his initial irritation he slowly gets used to her daily visits and begins to derive comfort from her presence. The forest begins to come alive and their relationship begins to grow. Vinayak cooks for her, narrates stories of his dead wife and takes care of her. He now wants to cure her. As the relationship grows it attracts comments and evokes a strong protest when she gets pregnant. The villagers question Vinayak’s right over an insane and helpless woman. They think that the relationship is morally incorrect and must end. However, for Vinayak the woman is his companion and the mother of his child. Thus begins the conflict between a society that refuses to take the responsibility of an insane person and a man who wants to integrate her in his life. The Director Laxmikant Shetgaonkar has also done the screenplay for the film. The film is edited by Shankalp Meshram. The cast includes Chitranjan Giri, Veena Jamkar, Prasanthi Talpankar, Vasanth Josalkar and Deepak Amonkar. Paltadcho Manis has won awards at the Fipresci Award at Toronto International Film Festival ’09, Hong Kong Asian Film Festival ’09, Cairo International Film Festival ’09, Mumbai Film Festival ’09 and Berlin International Film Festival ’09. SBS/AS