Wikipedia

Aata Vel Zaali

Aata Vel Zaali (transl. Now it's time) is a 2023 Marathi-language psychological drama film written and directed by Ananth Mahadevan and produced by Dinesh Bansal, G. K. Agrawal, and Ananth Mahadevan under Imagine Entertainment and Media, and Ananth Mahadevan Films.[2][3] The film stars Dilip Prabhavalkar and Rohini Hattangadi in the lead roles.[4][5] The story of the film is inspired by real-life characters and a true incident, which explores the controversial topic of active euthanasia.[6][7]

Aata Vel Zaali
EnglishIt's Time to Go!
Directed byAnanth Mahadevan
Written byAnant Mahadevan
Mahendra Patil
Produced byDinesh Bansal
G K Agrawal
Ananth Mahadevan
StarringDilip Prabhavalkar
Rohini Hattangadi
CinematographyPradeep Khanvilkar
Edited byKush Tripathy
Ananth Mahadevan
Music bySanjoy Chowdhury
Production
companies
Imagine Entertainment and Media
Ananth Mahadevan Films
Release dates
  • February 2023 (2023-02) (Pune)
  • 23 February 2024 (2024-02-23)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMarathi
Budget₹1.40 crore[1]

Aata Vel Zaali screened at the Dallas International Film Festival, the Pune International Film Festival, the Rajasthan International Film Festival, the Jagran Film Festival, the 15th Indian Film Festival of Ireland and the LIFE AFTER OIL International Film Festival.[8] The film had its theatrically released on 23 February 2024, along with English subtitles.

Plot

edit

A true story of existential crisis in the life of an elderly couple who feel that they are leading unproductive and obsolete lives and hence seek active euthanasia as an unusual remedy. Shashidhar, a gentleman who has lived happily ever after with his wife Ranjana Lele, wishes to make a dignified, painless exit before two likely calamities could befall them...either be reduced to a vegetative state or live a life deprived of the company of the spouse who might leave first. The film raises several queries that vacillate in the minds of humanity these days. The decision to own one's life and, subsequently, death is quirky and even harbours several moments of dark humour as Shashidhar and Ranjana attempt to convince a disbelieving world of their unorthodox outlook towards life and its reality. Until the universe itself conspires for an unexpected closure.

Cast

edit

Production

edit

National Award winner Ananth Mahadevan has written, directed, co-produced and co-edited the film.[12] Mahadevan wrote the Story and screenplay, and Mahendra Patil is dialogue writer.[13]

The principal photography took place in 2021.[14] The same month, it was confirmed by the director that actor Shivraj Waichal and actress Bhagyashree Limaye will be playing young characters to that of Prabhavalkar and Hattangadi, respectively.[15]

Release and reception

edit

The film was shortlisted among 14 other Indian films to be submitted to the 94th Academy Awards under the category of Best International Film category.[16] However, it was not selected, and the Tamil film Koozhangal, which was selected as the official entry to the award ceremony, was also not nominated. The film had its screenings at the Dallas International Film Festival, the Pune International Film Festival, the Rajasthan International Film Festival, the Jagran Film Festival, the 15th Indian Film Festival of Ireland, the LIFE AFTER OIL International Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Houston.[8]

The film was expected to release in theaters in December 2023, but it was postponed to 23 February 2024.[17] The official poster of the film was released on 1 February featuring Prabhavalkar and Hattangadi with an hour glass seen in the title and the passing of the time, along with the tagline, "If you want a happy ending, you must know where to end the story"[18][2] Subsequently, the 1 minute and 20 second trailer was released on 9 February 2024, captioned, "Why can't we die with dignity?", which attracted audiences.[19][20][21] After the trailer launch, dream girl Hema Malini highlighted the importance of this film through a video and wished the team, and also actors Nana Patekar, Suchitra Pillai, Suhasini Mulay, Adil Hussain, Tannishtha Chatterjee and director Abbas-Mustan had also wished the film and appealed viewers to watch the film.[22]

Critical reception

edit

Kalpeshraj Kubal of The Times of India praised for its performance by protagonists, simple and realistic approach, and concluded "Aata Vel Zaali makes you think hard though, not just on the topic it addresses, but also on the life of elderly people in general. For that, the treatment of the film and for the performances, this one is worth a watch" with rating of 3 out of 5 stars.[23] In Maharashtra Times, critic gave 3 stars out of 5 and described the film as "cinema is technologically superior even with limited economic-technical facilities. Due to the fact that there is no over-emotional feeling on the screen, the movie has become like ours" and highlighted the performance, direction, cinematography, background music and the recordist for capturing the subtle sounds of the surroundings. He praised the duo's performances where there is no dialogue in their mouths but, they have achieved exactly the desired result.[24]

Accolades

edit
Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Pune International Film Festival 2023 Best Actor Dilip Prabhavalkar Won [13]
Rajasthan International Film Festival 2023 Best Regional Film Aata Vel Zaali (It's Time to Go!) Won
Best Director Ananth Mahadevan Won
Sharjah International Film Festival 2023 Honorable Mention Fiction Feature Aata Vel Zaali (It's Time to Go!) Won [25]
Indian Film Festival of Houston 2024 Special Recognition Aata Vel Zaali (It's Time to Go!) Won [26]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Small budget Big Bonanza: Marathi Cinema shines amidst fierce competition". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "सर्व सांगून टाकायची 'आता वेळ झाली'; दिलीप प्रभावळकर आणि रोहिणी हट्टंगडी मुख्य भूमिकेत". ABP Majha (in Marathi). 1 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  3. ^ "अनंत महादेवन यांच्या चित्रपटाची घोषणा". Loksatta (in Marathi). 4 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  4. ^ "इच्छामरणावर आधारित 'आता वेळ झाली'चा भावूक ट्रेलर पाहिलात का?". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). 11 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Anant Mahadevan: We have lost Manmohan Desai, Prakash Mehra, Rishikesh Mukherjee... audience totally to formula films - Exclusive!". The Times of India. 21 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  6. ^ "रोहिणी हट्टंगडी आणि दिलीप प्रभावळकरांचा नवा चित्रपट लवकरच..." Maha MTB (in Marathi). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  7. ^ "विनाकारण जगत आहोत, म्हणून आम्हाला...'आता वेळ झाली' चा ट्रेलर प्रदर्शित". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Aata Vel Zaali". Pune International Film Festival. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  9. ^ Bodke, Chetan (10 February 2024). "'कशाला करताय हे सर्व, मरण जेव्हा याययचंय तेव्हा...'; इच्छामरणावर आधारित 'आता वेळ झाली'चा हृदयस्पर्शी ट्रेलर रिलीज". Saam TV (in Marathi). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. ^ ""आम्ही सन्मानपुर्वक का मरु शकत नाही?", 'आता वेळ झाली' चा भावूक करणारा ट्रेलर प्रदर्शित". Maha MTB (in Marathi). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  11. ^ BHATTACHARYA, ROSHMILA. "'Films offer you life lessons'". Rediff. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Dilip Prabhavalkar and Rohini Hattangadi starrer 'Aata Vel Zaali' will uplift spiritual cinematic experience!". CineBuster. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  13. ^ a b "इच्छामरणाचा अधिकार मागणाऱ्या जोडप्याची गोष्ट | director ananth mahadevan actor dilip prabhavalkar actress rohini hattangadi in loksatta office for movie aata vel zaali promotion zws 70". Loksatta (in Marathi). 18 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  14. ^ "'Aata Vel Zaali': Ananth Mahadevan shares new BTS picture of Dilip Prabhavalkar and Rohini Hattangadi from the sets of the film". The Times of India. 14 January 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Shivraj Waichal and Bhagyashree Limaye roped in for Anant Mahadevan's 'Aata Vel Zaali'". The Times of India. 18 January 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  16. ^ "India's Oscar entry Koozhangal is a poetic tribute to Ray, says Oscar jury". The Times of India. 24 October 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  17. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Ananth Narayan Mahadevan's The Storyteller expected to release in cinemas in September; BLASTS new-age filmmakers who are hailed for making sensible cinema: "Their films are inspired by Tarantino and Scorsese. The violence pours out like an avalanche so that it is graphic enough for the world to accept" 15". Bollywood Hungama. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  18. ^ More, Priya (1 February 2024). "Aata Vel Zaali Movie: इच्छामरणावर आधारित 'आता वेळ झाली', दिलीप प्रभावळकर आणि रोहिणी हट्टंगडी मुख्य भूमिकेत". Saam TV (in Marathi). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Aata Vel Zaali Trailer: "कृष्णानं जेव्हा ठरवलं की त्याच्या मृत्यूची वेळ आलीये..."; 'आता वेळ झाली' चा भावूक करणारा ट्रेलर रिलीज". Sakal (in Marathi). 10 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Aata Vel Zaali - Official Trailer | Marathi Movie News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  21. ^ Borade, Aarti Vilas. "Don 3: सावधान! 'डॉन' पुन्हा येतोय; अमिताभ, SRKच्या जागी 'या' अभिनेत्याची वर्णी". Hindustan Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Hema Malini, Nana Patekar, Abbas Mustan send best wishes for "Aata Vel Zali"!". CineBuster. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Aata Vel Zaali Movie Review : Watch it for the topic and performances". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  24. ^ "कसा आहे इच्छामरणावर आधारित 'आता वेळ झाली' सिनेमा? Review एकदा वाचाच". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  25. ^ "sharjah-art-foundation-announces-winning-films-for-sharjah-film-platform-6 - Sharjah Art Foundation". sharjahart.org. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aata_Vel_Zaali&oldid=1251647806"