A gem of a Marathi movie ‘Tingya’
shines a spotlight on the plight of farmers. 
By Mahadev Desai 

In the past, quite a few Bollywood movies have been made highlighting plights of farmers in India, struggling to survive, being at the mercy of floods, draughts, unscrupulous money lenders, middlemen, uncaring and slow-moving bureaucracy . Unexpected loss of crop,pesticides in the soil, switching to subsistence crops instead of food crops;improper crop rotation;lack of irrigation, or good seeds,or fertilizers, sometimes major sickness in the family, or family disputes, or addiction, lack of direct access to end-consumer, forcible acquisition of land for SEZs(Special Economic Zones) or for setting up steel or auto plants,etc. have driven depressed farmers to suicide. Two movies that readily come to mind reflecting some of the problems faced by farmers  are Bimal Roy’s ‘Do Bigha Zamin’ and Gowariker’s Swades.The Government of India is trying to alleviate farmer’s problems through various measures such as debt relief package for institutional loanees, farm subsidies;supplemental income through National Rural Emplyment Guarantee Act;Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana;P M Gram Sadak Yojana;farm subsidies, the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) ;etc, but there is a long way to go.

 The Marathi movie ‘Tingya’with the backdrop of farmer’s suicide is an insightful and perceptive debut movie of director Mangesh Hadawale,who has also written it’s story,screenplay and dialogues. It is produced by Ravi Rai,(A Small Town Boy Production). The movie has become a runaway success and has garnered many prestigious Awards. including 9 Maharashtra State Awards including Best Marathi Film;Best Marathi Film at Mami Film Festival and Best Critics Choice Award; Best Feature Film at Pune International Film Festival; and has also been selected for Indian Panorama.  The movie’s child artist Sharad Goekar(Tingya) won the Zee Alpha Gaurav Award 2008. Speaking on the awards, Ravi Rai, the producer said, “I realized way back that apart from entertainment, cinema has other wings as well. Creativity for me personally is something that disturbs me. It is born out of a disturbed mind. The life of farmers in India right now is in a phase that is very dark, tough and turbulent. Approximately every 9th hour a farmer commits suicide. The newspapers reports disturbed me everyday. I wanted to make a film. What? and How? I never knew till Mangesh came up with this subject and I knew I was doing it. This story is not a story of a farmer from Maharashtra. It can be a story of a farmer from Assam,Bengal, M.P.,U.P.,and any part of India”

“Tingya” is dedicated to approximately 131,000 farmers who committed suicides during 1993 to 2006, at a ratio of 9300 a year,780 a month and 26 a day and the ones who are on the threshold” 
The movie is set in a village in Maharashtra. Karbhari, a village farmer, who lives with his wife Anjana(Madhavi Juvekar)and two sons, seven year old Tingya and his elder brother. He has a pair of bulls Chitangya(of almost same age as his youngest son Tingya) and Patangya.Tingya and Chitangya are like soul-mates and have a tender bond..  

Debt-ridden Karbhari is about to plough his small field and plant potatoes when Tingya accidentally falls into a leopard-trap and breaks his hind leg, and consequently is unable to plough the land.  Karbhari tries to borrow money to buy another bull but is unable to get a loan. He even tries to borrow his sister’s tractor but returns empty- handed. He has no other options left so considers selling  Chitangya to a butcher and raise cash to buy another bull. But Tingya,who is very much attached to Chitangya would not let his father sell Chitangya.  He shares his anguish and concern with his neighbor’s daughter Rashida.  

Various incidents take the viewer on an emotional coaster ride.  Just before Chitangya is to be taken for sale to a butcher,Rashida’s Nani injures her back and is bed-ridden.  Tingya wonders why Nani is cared for by her family and the doctor whereas Chitangya is not.  He goes to town and brings home a vet much to his father’s rage. When the vet confirms that Chitangya will not recover from his injury,Tingya feels very upset. His father understands Tingya's love for the sick Chitangya but is helpless. In a flashback, the viewer is shown Karbhari’s neighbor Pandu committing suicide. Tingya’s mother is also torn between her love for Tingya and empathy for her husband. To find out what happens to Chitangya, please see either the movie or DVD(available with English sub-titles). The movie ends with a positive note. 

The direction of the movie is confident and mature. It has heart-touching moments but also moments of happiness shared especially by Tingya and Rashida.The movie has a sumptuous visual feast of rural scenery captured by cinematographer Dharam Gulati. The entire cast, though  facing  the camera for the first time, has given outstanding performances. A large chunk of film’s success rests on Tingya, whose natural acting and heart-warming role enhances the luster of the film and endears him to all. The story moves at a leisurely pace capturing the flavor of village life. The movie remains engaging to the very end. Definitely a memorable film,not to be missed !