Courtesy of http://www.expressindia.com

Rajendra Talak director of Konkani film Aleesha discusses the nascent Goan film industry

Pune, January 20: Perhaps Aleesha will do for Konkani films what Shwaas did for the Marathi film industry.'' That is Goan filmmaker Rajendra Talak's hope for Konkani film, Aleesha which was shown at the Pune International Film Festival.

Talak was addressing a press conference on Wednesday at E-Square where he spoke about the problems that the Goan film industry faced. ‘‘I was able to make this film almost 25 years after the first such Konkani film came out of Goa. That's because the problems that the Goan film industry faces are similar to the Marathi cinema - most talented professionals prefer to go to the more successful mainstream Bollywood industry.''

The film centres around the character environment-conscious Aleesha who finds herself struggling against mining which has scarred the beautiful state of Goa. ‘‘I wanted to present my point of view about Goa's environment and the need to protect it. '' Talak also plans to exhibit the subtitled version of his film to Konkani speaking audiences in Maharashtra. Also present at the press conference was Israeli director Dan Wolman, director of Ben's Biography, Canadian Dennis Boivin whose film Hold on to your hat and lead actor of Ring of fire Nida Wakim. Wakim's ease with five languages has helped him to move to films from various countries, he said. Wakim is also looking at Bollywood . ‘‘Director Sudheer Mishra and I had a talk. Perhaps it may work out,'' says Wakim.