Renowned for her captivating dance and choreography, Phulawa Khamkar takes center stage in a new role as a director with her debut film, Maasa. Distributed by Pocket Films and released on YouTube on January 26, 2024, the film presents Phulawa’s distinctive perspective on human emotions, emphasizing the beauty of acceptance.
The inspiration for “Maasa” struck unexpectedly, as Phulawa narrates, “The writer of the film, who is also an actor, Sandesh Kulkarni, was aware that I was looking for a script. He just called me one day and narrated one line. Jyoti tai was with him, and it was just an idea. The script wasn’t ready. But that one line just clicked. I was so happy. It touched me, and I wanted to make a film, where the crux is about acceptance and about women standing for women. Because this is rare in our society. So I was sure that is going to be my directorial debut.”
For Phulawa, the medium demanded careful portrayal, leading her to focus on the visual and silent aspects of storytelling. “I believe the medium is such that you have to be very careful of what you portray and how. I wanted it to be more about the visual, the screenplay, and partly silent. I wanted it to be the expression of my vision. And I am so glad we have achieved that,” she adds.
Despite encountering numerous obstacles during filming, Phulawa’s resilience shone through. “From losing out on the location because of a demise, to not having the young actor on board. We went through a sea of challenges. But I realized that no matter what as a director I had to be headstrong and a decision-maker. I had to make quick and difficult choices on the spot and take full responsibility for it too,” reflects Phulawa, unveiling the challenges faced during the production process.
The team consists of writer Sandesh Kulkarni, DOP Amol Gole, production designer Dilip More, music by Nilesh Moharir, editor Kshitija Khandagale, sound designer Vijay Bhope and executive producer Nitin Shirke. The post production is by R.H. Entertainment. The film is produced by Pradnya and Tej Dugal. “All of these and my husband, Amar, stood by me like a rock!”
The cast, including veteran actor Jyoti Subhash and the versatile Amruta Subash, played instrumental roles in bringing Phulawa’s vision to life. “I did not have to tell Jyoti Maushi anything. She would just perform like magic. She is incredible and played Rakhma with such conviction.”
Reflecting on Amruta’s dedication, Phulawa states, “Amruta and I invented every single detail of how Ketaki will be, even something as minuscule as how she will walk. We sat and discussed every single detail. I have known her for ages, and it’s commendable what she has achieved. Yet, she doesn’t forget her roots. And that’s why she is where she is today.”
The unintentional yet powerful message within “Maasa” captivated audiences, as Phulawa describes, “Interestingly, without the intention, we still have put a message. That’s the beauty of it. It’s not an out-of-the-box subject or something we haven’t seen yet. It is beautiful and touches you. It talks about acceptance, human emotions, and most importantly about letting go. So I am glad people resonated with it.”
Teasing her next project, Phulawa shares, “As for my next project, it’s completely different. It’s a story based in a prison where we have a political prisoner and a brutally murdered. So yes, I am excited about it.”
Watch the film: https://youtu.be/orayV2fpOmY?si=XSp065ExPYu8RuhS
