Mangaluru: Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Aloysius Paul D’Souza lit the lamp at the premiere of Henry D’Silva’s new Konkani Film ‘Nirmillen Nirmonem’ this morning at Big Cinemas, Bharat Mall, Bejai, announcing its release for public viewing. His first, ‘Noshibisho Khell’ was a massive hit with over 450 shows in India and abroad even as far away as the US and UK, and expectations ran high.
Speaking on the occasion, the Bishop said, “Konkani speakers are grateful to people like Henry D’Silva for their commitment to the Konkani language and the industry as it takes a lot of effort to bring out a film. His films come with a message and it is for us to absorb that message – the lives we live are according to God’s plan.” Henry D’Silva echoed his words and said that his first film garnered 1.5 lakh viewers, and with peoples support, he hoped that this film would see 2 lakh eyefalls.”
Indeed preliminary indications are that Henry D’Silva’s (Surathkal) second outing into the Konkani Film Industry will be as successful if not more than his previous one, Noshibhoso Khel. The premiere this morning at Big Cinemas, Bharat Mall, Bejai saw a packed house and the shows following are, we understand, already sold out.
The film reviewed
D’Silva’s new film carries the ‘destiny’ theme forward as God’s plan for us. Naturally perhaps. He weaves the many characters in his storyline (He wrote and produced the film) – A devout parish priest, an orphan, a rich young girl and her family and a caring, brilliant young female doctor – into a love story that is typical of the coastal Konkani Catholics from Goa and Mangalore. It has a great beginning and a great ending. But you have to wait for it, and it is well worth the wait. That much I can say.
Nirmillen Nirmonem has 2 hours and forty minutes of everything that a Mangalorean, or for that matter a Goan would like to see in a Konkani Film – Great Music, Great Lyrics, a primary love triangle, a secondary love plot, Parental guidance / interference / intervention, Godliness, typical comedy cameos and of course the inevitable immoral villains who deal in drugs and indulge in conversion – conversion not into the faith but into addiction. Directed by Melwin Elpel, the cinematography by Manjunath Hegde and Music by Pappan-Joswin make the film memorable. But what stands out as unique is that 5 songs of Wilfy Remimbus, Konkani Music Legend were remastered for the film – The lyrics and tunes remain unchanged from the original, barring a few places to suit the storyline and enhance the watchability and enjoyability of the movie. The music alone is sure to draw in the crowds.
The movie begins at a small parish church in a village. As the initial credits roll by on the screen, a lady in the pouring rain, (just as it was when the film premiered today) lays a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes at the doorsteps of the church. The baby boy is soon picked up by the Parish Priest’s butler and cook and grows up an orphan, but well cared for by the Parish Priest and his assistants. His childhood is full of fun, laughter, and games. Sunny (his name) is perhaps more talented than Sunny Gavaskar. As an adult, Sunny, as you may have guessed, has a sunny disposition, is a great dancer, a great singer, is handsome, and is well behaved despite being brought up as an orphan – Credit to the Parish Priest played by Rony Fernandes – and is in love; with his childhood sweetheart. There is a subplot involving unrequited love playing out in the background through the movie, and the spurts of slapstick comedy add to the length of the film, but provide the necessary bated breath for what happens next to the hero and heroine!
What happens next is for you to find out after the intermission – I don’t want to act as a spoiler. Prathap Menezes as Sunny, and Seema Buthello as his lady love Lenora make a fine couple on screen and carry their roles very well, especially Prathap, as do the comedy characters Simahua and Marcuz, the Parish Priest’s Butler and Cook. Hera Pinto as the good doctor is also easy to relate to and a pleasure to watch. Norbert, as the main villain Joy is very subtle in the way he expresses his immoral intentions.
The movie does seem a little too long, and the screenplay a little unpolished as the fine story that D’Silva has written comes alive on the screen, but overall it is an enjoyable film, a film worth watching and learning from, as it carries a strong message – we all live according to God’s plan.
Should you meet Henry D’Silva, you will find him modest. But if you have watched both his films, you will realize that there is a creative genius lurking deep within his being, that we can help nurture by watching his films. Because, as he said at the premiere today – he is motivated by the love of his audiences. So let’s do it, friends.
Catch you at the theatre!
